RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Eagle's syndrome comprises a rare disorder caused by compression of an elongated or deformed styloid process or ossified/calcified stylohyoid ligament on neural and vascular structures. It is characterized by facial and neck pain and can be confused with a wide variety of facial neuralgias, oral and dental diseases and temporomandibular disorders. An imaging evaluation associated with a careful clinical examination, are mandatory in structuring a correct differential diagnosis and in the establishment of a proper therapeutic protocol. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of the elongated styloid process in a Central Brazilian population and its relation to gender, age and side. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital panoramic radiographs of 736 patients (412 female and 324 male, with a mean age of 35.03 years) were consecutively selected from a private radiology clinic's secondary database. The apparent length of the styloid process was measured from the point where the styloid left the tympanic plate to the tip of the process by two specialists in dental radiology, with the help of the measuring tools on the accompanying software. Styloid process measuring more than 30 mm was considered elongated. The statistical analysis included frequency distribution and cross tabulation. The data were analysed by using Chi-squared tests. The level of significance was set at 5% for all analyses. RESULTS: A total of 323 (43.89%) radiographic images were suggestive of elongated styloid process. No statistically significant difference was found between the genders, although a higher prevalence was noticed in female participants. Approximately, 31% of the elongated styloid process was observed in 18-53-year-old participants (p < 0.05). Two hundred and sixty seven styloid processes (36.28%) were elongated on both right and left sides. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of elongated styloid process was high and no statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of elongated styloid process and the studied variables with the exception of the age.
RESUMO
Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar e comparar as imagens digitalizadas de forma indireta com as imagens apresentadas nas radiografias para verificar possíveis distorçães. Foram marcados pontos cefalométricos nas próprias radiografias e as distâncias entre os pontos medidas com dois tipos de paquímetro, um digital e outro analógico, sendo a média destas distâncias usada como parâmetro de referência para as medidas cefalométricas, mostrando as distorções que ocorrem em imagens digitalizadas indiretamente através de scanner. Utilizamos o software de cefalometria computadorizada, CEF X, para análise comparativa das imagens digitalizadas. O equipamento apresentou diferenças em relação aos paquímetros. Essas diferenças foram analisadas através de gráficos onde foi possível concluir a precisão do equipamento.
