Hyoid bone syndrome: a degenerative injury of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle with photomicroscopic evidence of insertion tendinosis.

This article describes the condition known as hyoid bone syndrome, its diagnosis by exclusion, and the histopathologic evidence of focal, degenerative muscle injury. The injury involves the origin fibers of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle on the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. The importance of the dentist and physician in recognizing the condition is emphasized, because dental and nondental pain reference sites make up the syndrome.