Radiographic Prevalence and Clinical Significance/ Etiology of Elongated Styloid Process in Females

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the radiographic prevalence of elongation and calcification in styloid complex and its clinical significance and etiology in female patients attending Taibah University Dental Clinics (TUDC) in Al-Madinah, KSA.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Oral Radiology Unit, Taibah University Dental clinics, Faculty of Dentistry, Al Madinah Al Monwarah, Saudi Arabia, between February 2015 and February 2016.

Methodology: A total of 2114 archived digital panoramic radiographs of female patients attending TUDC with a mean age of 33.3 that ranges from (18-80 years) were examined for the presence of elongated styloid process or calcification of stylohyoid ligament. We excluded cropped or blurred panoramic radiograph.

Results: The most frequent age for elongation was between 20-40 years. An overall prevalence of calcification and elongation in the styloid complex was 189 patients (11%) out of 1714. About 176 (10.3%) of them had elongated styloid process with complete calcification while 13 (0.7%) had fragmented calcification. Head or neck injury was the prevalent suspecting etiology in 31.3%, and pain with swallow was a clinical finding of participated patients in the questionnaire.

Conclusion: It is critical that the dentist should be attentive to normal variation in the styloid complex to be able to detect any elongation or calcification which could be discovered incidentally in radiographic examination particularly panoramic radiograph. Panorama is an economical, easily accessible and useful diagnostic screening tool for an early detection of elongated styloid process with or without symptoms.