Abstract
We experienced a case of an elongated styloid process that was 8 cm in length. The patient was a 68-year-old Japanese man with frequent episodes of left-sided throat pain for 10 years. The elongated styloid process could be diagnosed by 3D-computed tomography (left and right length: 7.8 cm and 8.0 cm, respectively) and successfully treated with surgery, since the anatomic relationships could be fully visualized. Surgical methods for shortening an elongated styloid process involve an intraoral or external approach. The external approach to the styloid process involves a trans-cervical approach to the parapharyngeal space, which enables wider visualization in the operative field than an intraoral approach. In the present case, the styloid process reached the parapharyngal space. Therefore, we selected the external approach and shortened only the left-sided styloid process (the same side as the throat pain). The chief complaint disappeared immediately after the operation.
Highlights
The normal length of styloid process is 17.418.8 mm in Japanese.[1]
Kaufman[3] described that the mean length of the styloid process on the right and left sides was 30 mm and 29.49 mm, respectively in panographic radiographs of 484 hospitalized patients. He reported that the mean length for elongated styloid processes was roughly 33 mm and 53 mm for left and right side
Our case report presents the clinical findings, the diagnostic usefulness of 3D-computed tomography (3D-CT), and a comparison of treatment methods with reference to the existing literature, which could lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology and safer therapies for elongated styloid process
Summary
The normal length of styloid process is 17.418.8 mm in Japanese.[1]. Eagle[2] reported an abnormal styloid process that was over 2.5 cm. Kaufman[3] described that the mean length of the styloid process on the right and left sides was 30 mm and 29.49 mm, respectively in panographic radiographs of 484 hospitalized patients. He reported that the mean length for elongated styloid processes was roughly 33 mm and 53 mm for left and right side. A styloid process more than 6 cm in length is considered giant.[1] a case of an elongated styloid process over 6 cm in length is very rare. Our case report presents the clinical findings, the diagnostic usefulness of 3D-computed tomography (3D-CT), and a comparison of treatment methods with reference to the existing literature, which could lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology and safer therapies for elongated styloid process
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