The correlation between the styloid process length, angle, head shape, and eagle syndrome based on high-resolution CT...

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Imaging
• Anatomy
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Eagle Syndrome (ES) is characterized by styloid process (SP) abnormalities.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on identifying SP length and spatial orientation.
• Existing diagnostic methods may lack comprehensive quantitative assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a comprehensive evaluation index (R value) for diagnosing Eagle Syndrome.
• To assess the diagnostic value of the R value based on SP length and spatial angles.
• To explore the imaging and clinical features of Eagle Syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of high-resolution CT (HRCT) data from 57 ES patients and 49 controls.
• Measurement of bilateral SP length, inward angulation, and forward tilt angle.
• Calculation of the R value and assessment of its diagnostic efficacy using ROC curve analysis and binary logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Patients with Eagle Syndrome showed significantly increased SP length, inward angulation, and forward tilt angle compared to controls.
• The R value demonstrated high diagnostic efficacy with an AUC of 0.86 for the left and 0.82 for the right side.
• Optimal cutoff values for the R value were identified for both sides, with high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions:

• Eagle Syndrome is strongly associated with specific styloid process length and angle measurements.
• The R value, integrating key anatomical parameters, is a valuable tool for diagnosing Eagle Syndrome.
• The R value serves as a quantitative reference criterion for diagnosing Eagle Syndrome, particularly when left R > 2.85 and/or right R > 2.72.