Elongated Styloid Process (Eagle Syndrome) - A Rare Finding at Autopsy

Eagle syndrome is constellation of symptoms varrying form recurrent neck pain on rotation, foreign body sensation in the neck, hyper salivation, difficulty in swallowing, hypoacusis, hyperacusis, earache, syncope and sudden death due to elongation of the styloid process or ossification of styloidhyoid ligament.

An awareness of this syndrome is important to all health professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of neck and head pain. Forensic expert should also keep in mind regarding the Eagle syndrome as being one of the causes of sudden death and thus explore styloid process. During routine autopsy dissections, 3 cases of elongated styloid processes were found. This article reviews the clinical importance of the elongated styloid process. The anatomy of styloid process has immense embryological, clinical, surgical importance.