Eagle's Syndrome.

A 54-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of pain on the left side of her thyroid cartilage when swallowing. Physical examinations showed no swelling or redness of the pharynx. However, a thin, bony strand of the styloid process was palpable on a palatine tonsil, and she felt pain when touching only the left tonsil. An otolaryngologist conducted an examination with a fiberscope, but no tissue abnormality was detected. An enhanced computed tomography revealed that both her styloid processes were approximately 6 cm in length with calcification (Picture, arrows). Therefore, we finally diagnosed her with Eagle’s syndrome. She was treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and the pain subsided. Eagle's syndrome, also known as styloid process syndrome, is a condition causing a painful sensation in the neck due to an elongated styloid (1,2). This case implies the importance of palpating the palatine tonsil in addition to visually observing it when a patient complains of swallowing pain.

Picture.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).