Article PDF :

Veiw Full Text PDF

Article type :

Case Series

Author :

Anakha Ashok*, Eldhose K George, Paul Steaphen, Geethu Philo Varghese, Sumary Abraham

Volume :

11

Issue :

1

Abstract :

Background: Eagle's syndrome or elongated styloid syndrome is an unusual condition which often goes misdiagnosed due to its vague presenting symptoms as well as it's overlap with other causes of cervicofacial pain.  The purpose of this case series is to highlight the importance of keeping eagle's syndrome as a differential diagnosis in patients who present with cervicofacial pain and to create awareness amongst dentists and maxillofacial clinicians about this condition. Methods: 12 patients ranging in age from 20-66 years reported to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery with different types of cervicofacial pain that they had for years without any resolution. They were all diagnosed as cases of Eagle's syndrome, some with no etiological factor, few were post-trauma patients and some had a history of tonsillectomy. All the patients were managed conservatively initially, though they were explained about all treatment options including surgical and non-surgical. Results: All the patients were treated with medications and local anaesthetic infiltration and called for review after a week. Four patients had complete remission of symptoms, five patients had partial remission of symptoms though their pain was well controlled by medications, one patient who had complete remission of symptom was suggested and explained the surgical treatment and two of the patients were lost to follow up. Conclusions: It is important to be able to differentiate and diagnose this syndrome clinically and radiographically from other similar conditions such as facial neuralgias and temporomandibular disorders so as to avoid patients from going through multiple hospital visits with no definitive treatment. The fact that it often goes undiagnosed is proof of the underestimation of the incidence of this syndrome and hence clinicians and dentists should have a high index of suspicion for Eagle's syndrome in patients with cervicofacial and pharyngeal pain.