Eagle's Syndrome: A Diagnostic Challenge and Surgical Dilemma

Eagle's syndrome was first described with all signs and symptoms by W. W. Eagle in the year 1949. It was characterized by abnormal ossification of styloid process leading to either morphological increase in the length of the styloid process itself or abnormal calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. It has been reported in patients of fourth to sixth decade. The surgical management of removal of the elongated styloid was first performed in 1842 even before Eagle's syndrome was completely understood. The establishment of the diagnosis is a challenge in itself as we need to differentiate it from the neuralgias such as glossopharyngeal neuralgia and superior laryngeal neuralgias. Furthermore, the decision of whether to operate or not is another dilemma in itself. We report a case of a 19-year-old girl with classic Eagle's syndrome along with the transcervical surgical management of the same.