Role of three-dimensional multidetector computerized tomography in diagnosis of Eagle’s syndrome

ObjectiveTo confirm the diagnosis of Eagle’s syndrome by three-dimensional MDCT among patients with clinical suspicion of the disease.Materials and methodsNon-contrast MDCT neck scans of 18 patients of clinical prediagnosis of Eagle’s syndrome and 6 control subjects over 9 months period were reviewed for styloid process lengths and medial angulations using conventional and three-dimensional images.ResultsOur study included 18 patients and 6 controls. The means of styloid process lengths and medial angulations were 2.6° and 69.4°, 2.2 cm and 73° respectively. Statistical significance was found (P < 0.05) between the medial angulations of SP of patients and controls rather than between the lengths. MDCT revealed that 10 out of 18 patients had elongated styloid processes, 6 were bilateral, and 4 were unilateral 3 of them were right sided. Mean length of elongated styloid processes was 4.4 cm (range from 3.3 to 5.4 cm), 4.5 cm in males and 4.2 cm in females. Three out of 18 patients had narrowed bilateral medial styloid process angulation, two of whom were bilateral and one case was unilateral with additional styloid process elongation.ConclusionMDCT with three-dimensional reconstructions is valuable in diagnosing Eagle’s syndrome by virtue of determining styloid process length and medial angulation, thus confirming clinical suspicion and aiding proper management.