Elongated styloid process (Eagle's Syndrome) causing orofacial pain

Pain located in the craniofacial area is frequent, it is a complex phenomenon involving several different components, such as sensory, cognitive, affective and emotional, and it is very difficult to determine its true origin. For these reasons, the approach to craniofacial pain must always be multidisciplinary and must include oral surgeons and dentists in many cases. An infrequent situation that may be source of craniofacial and cervical pain is the elongated styloid process, also known as Eagle’s Syndrome, characterized by specific symptoms and aetiology distinguishing it from other similar syndromes. Diagnosis requires an accurate acquisition of patient’s medical history, including the nature of the pain, its onset, duration and frequency, and the conditions causing its worsering. Neurological examination, laboratory tests and radiological evaluations are mandatory. The symptomatic elongated styloid process must be treated through radical surgery. A case of a patient with a history of severe orofacial pain caused by elongation of the styloid process is described.