Features of CT scan for the diagnosis of hypertrophy of the styloid processes of the temporal bone and Eagle’s syndrome

Abstract

Topicality: The Eagle's syndrome is a disease that is caused by irritation of the nervous, vascular and muscular structures that surround the subcutaneous process of the temporal bone. A syndrome manifested by chronic pain at the deep part of the lateral region of the face, which irradiates into the root of the tongue, pharynx and ear, dysphagia, symptoms of disorders of the circulation of the brain. Symptoms of Eagle’s syndrome are found in various otolaryngological, dental, neurological diseases. Purpose of the study: determine and evaluate the most significant and distinctive X-ray signs of hypertrophied styloid processes of the temporal bone; reveal differences in growth options and X-ray structure of the styloid processes of the temporal bone in accordance with histological data; eEvaluate the effect of conservative treatment of stylohyoid syndrome depending on different growth options for the styloid process of the temporal bone, according of the data of computed tomography. Materials and methods of research: at the process of our work based on diagnostics and treatment of stylohyoid syndrome, we analyzed 86 clinical cases: 61 women and 25 men. Patients age varies from 35 till 70 years. CT images with contrasting of the great vessels of the neck and functional tests. Based on the analysis, we developed a scheme for determining the variants of the styloid process growth, based on the CT data, in relation to the data of the histological examination of the styloid processes of the patients we operated on. Results: The analysis of CT images and histological studies allows us to divide the lengthening of the styloid processes of the temporal bone into two groups, which we give the name "ossification", that is, the actual growth of the styloid process and "calcification", that is, dystrophic changes and deposits of calcium salts in the ligament. Accordingly, we are developing approaches to conservative or to surgical treatment of this pathology, taking into account the CT data, depending on the growth options of the styloid process of the temporal bone.