Morphometric Analysis of the Stylohyoid Complex

Overview

Journal Surg Radiol Anat

Specialties Anatomy & Histology
General Surgery
Radiology

Date 2016 Oct 14

PMID 27734098

Citations 2

Authors

Sladjana Petrovic

Ivan Jovanovic

Sladjana Ugrenovic

Zoran Radovanovic

Zoran Pesic

Ivica Vuckovic

Nikola Stojkovic

Filip Petrovic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Stylohyoid complex is anatomical structure predisposed to numerous individual variations. These may result in its extreme elongation, medial deviation and finally Eagle's syndrome occurrence. The aim of this study was to measure the length, angulation, evaluate morphological variations of stylohyoid complex by computed tomography and, subsequently, relate obtained data to the gender and the age of the evaluated cases.

Materials And Methods: The material included CT scans of stylohyoid complexes of 282 individuals. The entire length, maximal thickness, and angulation of the stylohyoid complexes in the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes were measured.

Results: According to their morphology, orientation and length, stylohyoid complexes were classified into six morphological types. Elongated, bent, segmented, and segmented with attached stylohyoid ligament for the lesser horns of the hyoid bone stylohyoid complex types were characterized by significantly greater length, while pseudoarticulated type was characterized by significantly lower length in relation to normal stylohyoid complex type. The elongated type was additionally significantly thicker and with significantly lower value of medial angle in transverse plain than the normal stylohyoid complex type. Elongated, bent, and segmented types were significantly more frequent in males than in females. Furthermore, the frequency of the elongated stylohyoid complex type increased, whereas normal and pseudoarticulated types decreased with age.

Conclusions: In conclusion, elongated and more medially deviated stylohyoid complexes are more frequent in males than in females. Their more frequent presence in the older age groups indirectly connects this phenomenon with the aging process.

Citing Articles

Stylohyoid complex syndrome: A report of two cases and review of the literature.

Kabak S, Savrasova N, Melnichenko Y, Vysotski A, Mashchanka I Heliyon. 2020; 6(5):e03937.

PMID: 32420497 PMC: 7217999. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03937.

Asymmetry of the greater cornua of the hyoid bone and the superior thyroid cornua: a case report.

Radunovic M, Vukcevic B, Radojevic N Surg Radiol Anat. 2018; 40(8):959-961.

PMID: 29785676 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-018-2041-1.

References

Fusco D, Asteraki S, Spetzler R . Eagle's syndrome: embryology, anatomy, and clinical management. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2012; 154(7):1119-26. DOI: 10.1007/s00701-012-1385-2. View

Uysal Ramadan S, Gokharman D, Tuncbilek I, Kacar M, Kosar P, Kosar U . Assessment of the stylohoid chain by 3D-CT. Surg Radiol Anat. 2007; 29(7):583-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00276-007-0239-8. View

Nayak D, Pujary K, Aggarwal M, Punnoose S, Chaly V . Role of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction in the management of elongated styloid process: a preliminary study. J Laryngol Otol. 2007; 121(4):349-53. DOI: 10.1017/S0022215106003276. View

Kosar M, Atalar M, Sabanciogullari V, Tetiker H, Erdil F, Cimen M . Evaluation of the length and angulation of the styloid process in the patient with pre-diagnosis of Eagle syndrome. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2011; 70(4):295-9. View

Colby C, Del Gaudio J . Stylohyoid complex syndrome: a new diagnostic classification. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011; 137(3):248-52. DOI: 10.1001/archoto.2011.25. View

Kent D, Rath T, Snyderman C . Conventional and 3-Dimensional Computerized Tomography in Eagle's Syndrome, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, and Asymptomatic Controls. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015; 153(1):41-7. DOI: 10.1177/0194599815583047. View

Basekim C, Mutlu H, Gungor A, Silit E, Pekkafali Z, Kutlay M . Evaluation of styloid process by three-dimensional computed tomography. Eur Radiol. 2004; 15(1):134-9. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-004-2354-9. View

Murtagh R, Caracciolo J, Fernandez G . CT findings associated with Eagle syndrome. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2001; 22(7):1401-2. PMC: 7975191. View

Anbiaee N, Javadzadeh A . Elongated styloid process: is it a pathologic condition?. Indian J Dent Res. 2012; 22(5):673-7. DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.93455. View

10.

Jung T, Tschernitschek H, Hippen H, Schneider B, Borchers L . Elongated styloid process: when is it really elongated?. Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2004; 33(2):119-24. DOI: 10.1259/dmfr/13491574. View

11.

Nakamaru Y, Fukuda S, Miyashita S, Ohashi M . Diagnosis of the elongated styloid process by three-dimensional computed tomography. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2002; 29(1):55-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0385-8146(01)00102-x. View

12.

Prasad K, Kamath M, Reddy K, Raju K, Agarwal S . Elongated styloid process (Eagle's syndrome): a clinical study. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2002; 60(2):171-5. DOI: 10.1053/joms.2002.29814. View

13.

Vadgaonkar R, Murlimanju B, Prabhu L, Rai R, Pai M, Tonse M . Morphological study of styloid process of the temporal bone and its clinical implications. Anat Cell Biol. 2015; 48(3):195-200. PMC: 4582162. DOI: 10.5115/acb.2015.48.3.195. View

14.

Scaf G, de Freitas D, Loffredo L . Diagnostic reproducibility of the elongated styloid process. J Appl Oral Sci. 2011; 11(2):120-4. DOI: 10.1590/s1678-77572003000200007. View

15.

Ekici F, Tekbas G, Hamidi C, Onder H, Goya C, Cetincakmak M . The distribution of stylohyoid chain anatomic variations by age groups and gender: an analysis using MDCT. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2012; 270(5):1715-20. DOI: 10.1007/s00405-012-2202-5. View

16.

Onbas O, Kantarci M, Karasen R, Durur I, Basekim C, Alper F . Angulation, length, and morphology of the styloid process of the temporal bone analyzed by multidetector computed tomography. Acta Radiol. 2006; 46(8):881-6. DOI: 10.1080/02841850500335085. View

17.

Al-Khateeb T, al Dajani T, Al Jamal G . Mineralization of the stylohyoid ligament complex in a Jordanian sample: a clinicoradiographic study. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2009; 68(6):1242-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2009.07.090. View

18.

Yavuz H, Caylakli F, Yildirim T, Ozluoglu L . Angulation of the styloid process in Eagle's syndrome. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2008; 265(11):1393-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00405-008-0686-9. View

19.

Gozil R, Yener N, Calguner E, Arac M, Tunc E, Bahcelioglu M . Morphological characteristics of styloid process evaluated by computerized axial tomography. Ann Anat. 2002; 183(6):527-35. DOI: 10.1016/S0940-9602(01)80060-1. View

20.

Ilguy M, Ilguy D, Guler N, Bayirli G . Incidence of the type and calcification patterns in patients with elongated styloid process. J Int Med Res. 2005; 33(1):96-102. DOI: 10.1177/147323000503300110. View