Abstract
The length of the styloid process was analyzed on 111 (oral) panoramic radiograms. Visualization of the styloid processes on the films was achieved in 178 of the 222 sides. Of these, 66 were taken from patients suffering from abnormal sensation in the throat. The other 112 were the films taken from patients not related to pharyngolaryngeal discomfort and served as controls.
The mean length of the styloid processes among the controls was 22.1mm (S. D.±7.2mm). The mean length among the patients suffering from abnormal sensation was 24.1mm (S. D.±8.0mm) and was significantly longer than that of the controls (p<0.05). Patients, who had abnormal sensation in the epi and/or mesopharynx, and had the identical sensation by palpating the tonsilar fossa, and whose abnormal sensation subsided by blocking the area, were suspected of having styloid syndrome. Those patients had slightly longer styloid processes than that of the entire group of patients with abnormal sensation in the throat.
There was no statistically significant relationship between the length of the stybid process and age, or sex.
