Ossification of the stylohyoid ligament and 'Eagle's' syndrome

Abstract

'Eagle's' syndrome is a rare condition in which an ossified stylohyoid ligament may endanger neural and vascular structures in the neck (Eagle, 1949, 1962; Rechtweg et al., 1998; Rodriguez-Vazquez et al., 2006; Chuang et al., 2007). Compression of one or other of these structures may give rise to symptoms including unilateral neck pain, dysphagia, otalgia and tinnitus (Kaufman et al., 1970; Omnell et al., 1998; Basekim et al., 2005; Ramadan et al., 2007; Yagci et al., 2007; Ramadan et al., 2010. Computer Tomography (CT) scans of the head and neck of 431 deceased persons (235 males and 196 females) between the ages of 1 day and 100 years (mean age 35.93 ± 24.15) who were admitted for medico-l..