PROCESSO ESTILOIDE ALONGADO NAS RADIOGRAFIAS PANORÂMICAS EM UMA SUBPOPULAÇÃO

Abstract

Styloid process elongation associated with symptoms such as cervicofacial pain, tinnitus and otalgia is called Eagle Syndrome. The objective of this study is to assess the presence of elongated styloid process through panoramic radiographs, in a subpopulation of the State of Para, Brazil, as to age and sex. Panoramic radiographs were selected and the apparent size of the styloid process was measured from the point where the styloid leaves the tympanic plate to the lower tip of the process. Data were analyzed by means of chi-square tests and the “t” test with a significance level of 5%. Forty-three percent of all elongated styloid processes were observed in patients aged between 18 and 35 years old. Of these styloid processes measuring more than 30 mm, there were 815 that showed a Type I elongation pattern, being 98 that showed a Type II calcification pattern and 92 showed a Type III calcification pattern. It is concluded that the Type I elongated styloid process was the most frequent, but no statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of the elongated styloid process and the studied variables.