The Role of 3 - Dimensional Multi - Detector Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Eagle's Syndrome and Correlation with Severe Headache and Migraine : Iraqi Study

Abstract

The styloid process is a cylindrical bone (protrusion). It situated above the common carotid artery between the external and internal branches immediately proximal to the internal jugular vein and facial nerves. The styloid process varies in length also it may be absent as well as elongated. Classically, an elongated styloid process and calcified of stylohyoid ligament causes Eagle's syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the styloid process using 3 dimensional multi-detector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) to detect the presence of Eagle's syndrome that causes severe headache and migraine. Materials and methods: One hundred patients with severe headache and migraine were exposed to 3D- multi- detector CT with special brain CT in Al-Karkh general hospital to examine the styloid process. By elongated the field of the brain CT multi-detector downward and using facial volume, the morphological alterations of styloid process and stylohyoid ligament can be discovered. Results: Thirty four patients (25 females and 9 males) had a problem in the styloid process. Seven of them were suffered from elongation of styloid process while 27 patients had fractured styloid process unilaterally or bilaterally Conclusion: Eagle's syndrome is one of the important causes of severe headache and craniofacial pain which is detected by special field of brain 3D CT - multi-detector. Key word: CT multi-detector, styloid process elongation, fracture. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2013; 25(Special Issue 1):72- 76).