Unilateral complete articulated ossification and aberrant thickening of the stylohyoid chain

Abstract

Eagle’s syndrome is a rare clinical entity associated with craniofacial and cervical pain. It is caused by an elongated or deviated styloid process and/ or calcification/ossification of the stylohyoid ligament. Complete ossification and aberrant thickening of the stylohyoid chain is the most unusual manifestation. We report a patient who presented with complaints of foreign body sensation, dysphagia and moderate submandibular pain caused by unilateral complete ossification, abnormal thickening and hypertrophy of the stylohyoid chain. This case was also unique in that histopathological investigation demonstrated mature bone with both compact and cancellous bone as well as bone marrow.