[Eagle's syndrome]

Transcervical styloidectomy in Eagle's syndrome

Eagle's syndrome is a rare disease responsible for polymorphic head and neck symptoms, often resulting in delayed diagnosis. The diagnosis of Eagle's syndrome is based on the presence of suggestive clinical signs associated with pain on palpation of the styloid process in the tonsillar fossa, a positive lidocaine test and elongation of the styloid process on 3D CT scan. The most commonly proposed curative treatment is styloidectomy, which allows complete resolution of symptoms in the great majority of cases. This procedure can be performed via a transoral approach or a transcervical approach. After briefly reviewing the embryology and anatomy of the styloid diaphragm region, the authors describe the transcervical styloidectomy technique performed in their department. This simple technique is based on anatomical imperatives designed to limit the operating time and avoid damage to neurovascular structures.