Eagle Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Eagle's syndrome, stylo-carotid syndrome, elongated styloid process syndrome or American syndrome is a rare and controversial entity. It is characterized by a long styloid process causing irritation of the surrounding structures. We report a case of Eagle's syndrome of incidental discovery in a 53-year-old patient, with no particular history, who presented with intense left retro-mandibular pain evolving for two years. A computer tomography angiography (CTA) of the supra-aortic trunks was ordered and showed two bilateral bony processes extending from the styloid process towards the lesser horn of the hyoid bone, indicating ossification of the stylohyoid ligament, which led to the diagnosis of Eagle syndrome.