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Objectives: Eagle's syndrome is caused by an elongated or mineralised styloid process and characterised by facial
and pharyngeal pain, odynophagia and dysphagia. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings. However radiologic
imaging, like panoramic radiograph, helps to confirm the diagnosis.
There are different treatments of the Eagle's syndrome. Anti-inflammatory medication (carbamazepime, corticosteroids)
and/or surgical interventions are established. The aim of the different surgical techniques is to resect the
elongated styloid process near the skull base.
Study Design: A transoral, retromolar, para-tonsillar approach was performed to expose and resect the elongated
calcified styloid process in a consecutive series of six patients. The use of different angled ring curettes, generally
used in hypophysis surgery, facilitated the preparation of the styloid process through the surrounding tissue to the
skull base, without a compromise to the surrounding tissue.
Clinical examinations were performed pre- and postoperatively (3 month and after 1 year after surgery) in all
patients.
Results: No intra- or postoperative complications were observed. The hypophysis ring curettes facilitated the
preparation of the styloid process to the skull base.
Conclusions: The transoral, retromolar, para-tonsillar approach is a secure and fast method to resect an elongated
symptomatic styloid process. Side effects of the classical transoral trans-tonsillar approach did not occur.
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