An epidemiological study of elongation of styloid process in the saurashtra population: A retrospective radiographic digital orthopantomographic study

Abstract

Introduction: The styloid process (SP) is a cylindrical bony structure emerging from the lower surface of the petrous temporal bone, its normal length is from 20 mm to 30 mm and those with more than 30 mm length are considered elongated. Calcification in stylohyoid ligament or calcification of SP is termed Eagle's syndrome. The aim of this study is to conduct an epidemiological survey of SP on digital orthopantomogram (OPG) in the Saurashtra population with an age range of 5–90 years. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 1088 OPG radiographs randomly selected from the database of 2019–2020 from the oral medicine and radiology department of our institute, which was taken on the OPG model CS 8100 Carestream digital panoramic system. Measurements of SP were done from the temporal bone to the tip. Those with more than 30 mm in length were considered to be elongated. The study sample was divided into four different age groups and was compared according to gender and sides. The Chi-square test and t-test were performed. Results: Elongated SP was noted in 354 (32.53%) out of 1088 subjects. Among age groups, subjects of more than 50 years showed a maximum number of elongated SPs. Conclusion: Subjects showing elongated SP and their mean length are increased with age, which indicates chronic development of calcification. No statistical significance was found in the elongation of SP in correlation with the cohort's gender and sides (bilateral or unilateral).