Eagle syndrome: A rare neuropathic disorder affecting head and neck

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Eagle syndrome (ES) is characterized by symptoms arising from the styloid process.
• Clinical presentation can be diverse, including pharyngeal discomfort, neck pain, and vertigo.
• Psychological distress is often associated with chronic pain conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the clinical features of Eagle syndrome.
• To assess the psychological impact on patients with ES.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of ten Eagle syndrome cases.
• Clinical data collection including symptoms and radiographic findings.
• Assessment of anxiety and depression using Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).

Main Results:

• The study included 8 females and 2 males aged 34-56 years.
• Common symptoms were foreign body sensation, odynophagia, vertigo, neck pain, and toothache.
• Radiographic findings revealed elongated, hypertrophic, or abnormally angled styloid processes, with associated stylohyoid ligament calcification. Eight patients experienced anxiety and/or depression.
• Surgical resection of the elongated styloid process led to symptom resolution and disappearance of psychological distress in 6 patients, with no recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of ES relies on thorough history, physical examination, and radiological studies.
• Abnormalities in styloid process morphology (hyperostosis, angulation) are key factors in ES development, not just elongation.
• Psychological distress is a significant comorbidity in ES patients and warrants clinical attention.