Elongated styloid process: An epidemiological study on digital panoramic radiographs

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• The styloid process, a projection of the temporal bone, is considered elongated when exceeding 30 mm.
• Elongated styloid process prevalence varies across populations.
• Calcification of the styloid process is a known phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an epidemiological evaluation of elongated styloid process prevalence.
• To analyze the relationship between age and elongated styloid process length.
• To investigate potential correlations between elongated styloid process, gender, and laterality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1003 digital panoramic radiographs from an Italian population.
• Measurement of styloid process length from temporal bone origin to tip.
• Statistical analysis including Chi-squared, Fligner-Killeen, Shapiro-Wilk tests, and t-test with Welch correction.

Main Results:

• 33.40% of the evaluated patients presented with an elongated styloid process.
• A positive correlation was observed between increasing age and both the number of patients with elongated styloid process and mean styloid process length.
• No statistically significant correlation was found regarding gender or laterality (unilateral/bilateral).

Conclusions:

• The findings support the concept of chronic development and calcification of the elongated styloid process, increasing with age.
• Prevalence and characteristics of elongated styloid process in the Italian population were established.
• The study highlights the importance of considering age in the assessment of styloid process morphology.