Eagle's syndrome: a pain in the neck.

A 60-year-old male patient was evaluated for cervical pain, hiccups, dysphonia and dysphagia for five months. Physical examination showed left IX and X cranial nerve palsy. Brain MRI was normal. A cervical CT scan showed an elongated styloid process and stylohyoid ligament pseudoarthrosis (Figure). Eagle’s syndrome is a rare entity caused by abnormal enlargement and ossification of the styloid process, the attached stylohyoid ligament and the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone1,2,3,4. The condition causes variable degrees of compression of V, VII, IX, X and XII cranial nerves, and the jugular or carotid, leading to diverse symptoms1,2,3,4. Eagle’s syndrome pathogenesis remains unclear1,2,3,4.