[Compression of the internal carotid artery due to elongated styloid process]

Elongation of the styloid process has been reported as a source of pain in the head and neck region. However, transient ischemic attack (TIA) due to mechanical compression of the internal carotid artery (ICA) by an elongated styloid process has never been mentioned in the literature.

Male aged 36 years, with a ten-year history of dull intermittent pain in the left side of the neck that worsened on turning the head, suffered a TIA in the silvian territory, ten days after a minor neck trauma. The eco-Doppler exploration demonstrated a compression of the ICA after rotation of the head. The arteriography revealed an stenosis of the cervical ICA by an external compression. The length of the elongated process in the orthopantomogram and the computed tomography was 35 mm. Angiotomography showed a closed relationship between the tip of the left elongated process and the stenosis of the ICA. Surgical styloidectomy was performed via an extraoral approach under general anaesthesia. The excised specimen measured 30 mm long. All symptoms were relieved with no recurrence during a three-year follow up period.

TIA should be taken into account in the clinical feature associated to an elongated styloid process. Angiotomography is very reliable to define the anatomic relationship between the styloid process and the ICA. The treatment of choice is surgical shortening trough an external approach which provides an adequate control of the carotid artery.