ELONGATED STYLOID PROCESS: A CAUSE OF OBSCURE THROAT SYMPTOMS

Abstract

The purpose of this communication is to point out that the elongated styloid process is common and that it will often, if sought, be found to be the cause of obscure complaints involving the throat. Forty-three patients having this condition were found in the private and dispensary services of Duke Hospital, 39 of them between January 1937 and September 1939. Only 11 of the 43 patients came to operation. Four of these patients had been previously reported on.¹ According to Dwight,² the styloid process is derived from the second branchial arch and normally attains the length of 2.5 to 3 cm. (fig. 1). It extends from the under surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone forward, downward and mesially. The tip is cartilaginous and in the abnormally long styloid process may fuse with the lesser horn of the hyoid bone in the form of a calcified stylohyoid ligament