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. 2008 Jul;2:224–228.

Styloid Process Elongation or Eagle’s Syndrome: Is There Any Role for Ectopic Calcification?

Cumali Gokce a, Yildiray Sisman b,✉, Murat Sipahioglu c
PMCID: PMC2635909  PMID: 19212553

Abstract

The styloid process (SP) is a cylindrical, long cartilaginous bone located on the temporal bone. The normal SP length is approximately 20–30 mm. The styloid process elongation (SPE) can be assumed if either the SP or the adjacent stylohyoid ligament ossification shows an overall length in excess of 30 mm. Elongated SP is known as Eagle’s syndrome when it causes clinical symptoms as neck and cervicofacial pain. It is supposed that this symptoms and signs are due to the compression of the SP on some neural and vascular structures. It may also cause stroke due to the compression of carotid arteries. This syndrome is diagnosed by both radiographical and physical examination. Instead of many hypotheses and studies, the exact etiology of elongated SP and the role of ectopic calcification are unknown. Ectopic calcification (EC) might have a role for the elongation of SP. Abnormal calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and vitamin D metabolism is very common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Therefore, this calcification in nonosseous soft tissue due to abnormal serum Ca and P levels is commonly associated with this disorder. EC due to the abnormality in this metabolism which is related to the duration of dialysis is also very important for this calcification. Therefore, a study in patients with ESRD investigating the prevalence of SP and the correlation between dialysis period and the SP length may help us explaining the role of EC in the elongation of SP. Because, this disease might be a good model for the investigation of the EC in this elongation. However, further studies and large samples are also needed to clarify the etiology of this disorder.

Keywords: Eagle’s Syndrome, Ectopic calcification, End-stage renal disease, Panoramic radiography

INTRODUCTION

The styloid process (SP) is a cylindrical, long cartilaginous bone located on the temporal bone. The muscles and ligaments which have a role in mastication and swallowing are attached to the SP. There are many nerves and vessels such as carotid arteries adjacent to the SP. The SP and the stylohyoid ligament develop from the Reichert’s cartilage (second pharyngeal arch).1–7 The normal SP length is approximately 20–30 mm.3,4,8–13 The styloid process elongation (SPE) can be assumed if either the SP or the adjacent stylohyoid ligament ossification shows an overall length in excess of 30 mm1,3,4,8,10,12–17 (Figure 1). The reported radiographic prevalence of the SPE varies in the literature (2–30%).3,10,13,16,18–20

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Bileteral styloid process elongation in a subject on a panoramic radiography.

The elongated SP and structural changes in stylohyoid ligament with its clinical symptoms were first described by Eagle.21,22 Elongated SP is known as Eagle’s syndrome when it causes clinical symptoms as neck and cervicofacial pain.1,2,5,10,11,17,21,23,24 It is supposed that this symptoms and signs are due to the compression of the SP on some neural and vascular structures. More uncommonly, symptoms such as dysphagia, tinnitus, and otalgia may occur in patients with this syndrome.1,2,5,25 It may also cause stroke due to the compression of carotid arteries.1,8,26 The compression depends on the size, shape, and orientation of the ossified SP.27 Besides, degenerative or inflammatory changes in the tendinous portion of the styloid ligament insertion or rheumatic styloiditis may also cause this syndrome.8 The symptoms due to this syndrome can be confused with some disorders including a wide variety of facial neuralgias, oral, dental and, temporomandibular diseases. Therefore, a detailed differential diagnosis for SPE should be done.24

Eagle’s syndrome is diagnosed by both radiographical and physical examination. The SP palpation in the tonsillar fossa is indicative of SPE which are not normally palpable. Palpation of the tip of the SP should exacerbate existing symptoms. If highly suspicious for Eagle’s syndrome, confirmation can be done by radiographical imaging.28 More commonly; a panoramic radiography (PR) is used to determine whether the SP is elongated. Panoramic images are most useful clinically for diagnosing disorders related to facial structures including maxillary and mandibular bones and their supporting structures.3,4,9–12,29–33 Although PRs have an important role for demonstrating the variations of SP, they are not able to show the orientation and dimensions of this bone. On the other hand, multislice computed tomography (MSCT) provides a reliable visualization of this features.17,27,34 However, many reports have shown that SPE was not the only reason of the symptoms and signs, and they suggested that other factors such as mediolateral angling (MLA), anteroposterior angling (APA) and the bending of the SP head were also important.27,34,35 Therefore, radiographic imaging may be enough for the patients with Eagle’s syndrome who has normal bone structure. But, if there is any complication regarding this bone like tumor,36 osteomyelitis37 or fracture,38 this complication could be easily detected by bone scintigraphy due to the high sensitivity of this imaging method.35

The exact cause of the elongated SP due to calcified and ossified bone and ligament is not clear. It was suggested that local chronic irritations, surgical trauma, endocrine disorders in female at menopause, persistence of mesenchymal elements, growth of the osseous tissue and mechanical stress or trauma during development of SP could result in calcified hyperplasia of the SP.6,8,17,39,40 In a study, Okabe et al33 found a significant correlation between the serum calcium (Ca) concentration and the SP length among 80-year-old subjects. The longer the SP was, the higher the serum Ca concentration was in this sample. They also evaluated the correlation between the SP length and heel bone density in these subjects. It was found that the longer the SP was, the higher the heel bone density was. However, there is no more study investigating the role of Ca and phosphorus (P) metabolism (ectopic calcification) in terms of SPE in the literature.

IS THERE ANY ROLE FOR ECTOPIC CALCIFICATION?

Extraskeletal (ectopic) calcification (deposition calcium phosphate crystals) or ossification (true bone formation) might have a role for the elongation of SP. Ectopic calcification (EC) in nonosseous soft tissue may be due to three mechanisms; metastatic calcification due to disorders causing abnormal serum Ca and P levels, dystrophic calcification due to mineral deposition into metabolically impaired or dead tissue despite normal serum levels of Ca and P, and ectopic ossification. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have risks for EC or ossification due to disorders (renal failure, dialysis, secondary hyperparathyroidism) causing metastatic calcification.41

Abnormal Ca, P and vitamin D metabolism is very common in patients with ESRD.41–44 Disturbances in this metabolism in these patients causes prolonged stimulation of parathyroid glands. This results in increased synthesis and release of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Therefore, it causes parathyroid hyperplasia-secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). SHPT causes skeletal disturbance that characterizes renal osteodystrophy. It is associated with vascular and other soft tissue calcifications.43–49 Moreover, high PTH levels, an increased hyperphosphatemia and calcium X phosphate product are associated with increased mortality rate in patients with ESRD.46 Therefore, therapeutic regimens that can maintain normal serum Ca and P levels, reduce PTH secretion, and correct deficiency of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in these patients.42–44,47,48,50,51

EC-metastatic calcification- in nonosseous soft tissue due to abnormal serum Ca and P levels (abnormality in Ca and P metabolism) is very common in patients with ESRD.41 Therefore, this disease may be a good model for the investigation of the EC in the elongation of SP. However, a detailed differential diagnosis should be done for this disorder. Therefore, the ESRD patients had co-disorders causing dystrophic calcification (scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosis, trauma-induced) and ectopic ossification (post surgery, burns, neurological injury, myositis ossificans) should be eliminated. The extent of EC increases with the dialysis period and age.52 EC due to the abnormality in Ca and P metabolism which is related to the duration of dialysis is also very important for this calcification in these patients.41,52

CONCLUSIONS

As a result, SPEs found as incidental findings on PRs may be important clinically in not only normal population, but also in patients with systemic disorders such as ESRD. Instead of many hypotheses and studies, the exact etiology of elongated SP and the role of EC are unknown. To our knowledge, there is no study investigating the role of Ca and P metabolism in terms of EC in the elongation of the SPE. Therefore, a study in patients with ESRD investigating the prevalence of SP and the correlation between dialysis period and SP length may help us explaining the role of EC in the elongation of SP. However, further studies and large samples are also needed to clarify the etiology of this disorder.

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