Unilateral glossodynia due to Eagle’s syndrome. Case report

Eagle's syndrome represents a variety of craniofacial or neck symptoms caused by the elongation of the styloid process or the calcification of the stylomandibular ligament. It presents mainly with pain or the sense of a pharyngeal foreign body. In cases of unilateral glossodynia Eagle's syndrome must be included in differential diagnosis. The surgical removal of the styloid process can be performed through an intraoral or extraoral approach with very good results. The aim of this paper is to present a case of a 57-year-old female patient suffering for twelve months of persistent unilateral glossodynia due to Eagle's syndrome. 3D Computer tomography scan revealed elongation of both styloid processes, and the diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome was set. Trough an intraoral approach, the 4 cm long right styloid process was removed. The patient was completely relieved from the symptoms right after surgery, without any postoperative morbidity.