Stomatológ 2024, 34(2):11-14 | DOI: 10.69658/sto.2024.010

Eagle's Syndrome: A Rare and Overlooked Issue in Dentistry

Anna Kobyliaková, Marek Soviš, Ivana Vidová, Barbora Šufliarsky, Kristián Šimko, Branislav Gális, Ladislav Czakó

Klinika ústnej, čeľustnej a tvárovej chirurgie LF UK a UNB Ružinov, Bratislava

Eagle Syndrome, first described in 1937 by American otorhinolaryngologist Watt Weems Eagle, is a rare condition characterized by symptoms resulting from the elongation or calcification of the styloid process or the stylohyoid ligament. This condition is also referred to in the literature by several other names, such as stylohyoid syndrome, elongated process syndrome, or stylalgia [1].
This anatomical anomaly can cause and compress surrounding structures, including cranial nerves, cervical blood vessels, and the pharyngeal wall, leading to a variable clinical presentation. The diagnosis is often challenging due to non-specific symptoms overlapping with other conditions, requiring a combination of clinical examination and radiological studies. This article aims to emphasize the role of general dental practitioners, as "first-contact" physicians, in the potential diagnosis or differential diagnosis of this condition. It further discusses the anatomy, incidence, diagnostic strategies, and treatment options related to ES, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to achieving optimal outcomes for patients.

Published: January 1, 2025  Show citation