Internal carotid dissection caused by an elongated styloid process (Eagle syndrome)

Eagle syndrome (symptoms associated with an elongated styloid process (SP)) is commonly divided into two presentations. First, the so-called classic Eagle syndrome where patients can present with unilateral sore throat, dysphagia, tinnitus, unilateral facial and neck pain and otalgia. Second, there is the vascular or stylocarotid form of Eagle syndrome in which the elongated SP is in contact with the extracranial internal carotid artery. We describe two cases of internal carotid artery dissection associated with an elongated SP. One is a patient with ischaemic stroke and another with transient ischaemic attacks caused by an elongated SP. A surgical resection of the SP was performed on the former patient. Both patients were treated with anticoagulation and recovered well. A literature search only revealed two prior descriptions of carotid dissection in the context of an elongated SP.