Bilaterally Elongated Styloid Process – A Case Report

• Main Authors: Rajan Kumar Singla, Bhagya Shree, Ravi Kant Sharma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2014-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery
• Subjects: styloid process; skull; stylohyoid ligament
• Online Access: http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/2005/2-%209667_CE(%20%20)_F(Sh)_PF1(ANAK)_PFA(AK).pdf

The styloid process is a long cylindrical process arising from the temporal bone. It is usually 20-30 mm long. If it is more than 30 mm long, it is said to be elongated styloid process. It may be due to ossification of stylohyoid ligament and may be unilateral or bilateral. The material for the present study comprised of a skull prepared in the Department of Anatomy, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar after routine undergraduate dissection. The styloid processes in the said skull were elongated on both the sides, the length being 76 mm on right and 71 mm on left side. These were fused with the hyoid bone at site of lesser cornua. A knowledge of such variation may be of interest not only for anatomist but also for physicians and surgeons. An elongated styloid process may be responsible for different sets of clinical features like cervicofacial pain or feeling of foreign body in pharynx. These may be attributed to compression of some neural or vascular structure by it.