Table 1.

Accepted possible aetiologies of the Eagle’s syndrome and pathogenesis of clinical symptoms of the Eagle’s syndrome to date, reviewed in multiple papers [3,4,20,21,22,23,24,25,26].

1.	Mechanical Irritation of the Pharyngeal Mucosa from an Elongated Styloid Process
2.	Compression of nerves, including glossopharyngeal nerve, lower branch of trigeminal nerve, and/or the chorda tympani
3.	Fracture of ossified stylohyoid ligament by a sudden head movement, followed by growth of granulation tissue
4.	Pressure on the carotid artery that may affect the circulation and produce irritation of the sympathetic nerves of the arterial sheath
5.	Degenerative changes in the tendon of the stylohyoid muscle insertion
6.	Stretching and fibrosis involving the V, VII, IX, and X cranial nerves after tonsillectomy
7.	Traumas in the cervicopharyngeal region (as a possible result of “reactive metaplasia”)
8.	Developmental aspect—trauma during development of styloid process
9.	Psychological aspect—patient is more sensitive to the symptoms of elongated styloid process after a trauma or surgery
10.	Endocrine changes at menopause or increased serum calcium concentration and increased heel bone density
11.	Genetic aetiology—an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern