Incidence of elongated styloid process in south Indian skulls

Elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the styloid ligament is very rare anamoly seen. The close proximity of the styloid process to many of the vital neurovascular structures in the neck makes it clinically significant. Abnormal elongation of the styloid process may cause compression on a number of vital vessels and nerves related to it producing inflammatory changes that include continuous chronic pain in the pharyngeal region, radiating otalgia, phantom foreign body sensation, pain in the pharyngeal region, dysphagia. The normal length of styloid process is usually 2.0-2.5cm long. We worked to find out the incidence of elongated styloid process in 50skulls and the results of same were 4%. We are re poring two cases in this article the largest one among them was 8.2cm length and 1 cm thick at the base which is extremely rare in which the styloid process proper 5.1cm long and remaining 3.1cm was ossified styloid ligament the junction between the two was marked by bulge of bony mass and stylohyoid part broken on left side and it was 5cm long and 1cm thick at base. In other case on the right side it was 6.4cm and 1cm thick at base and it was in two segments, on left side it was in only segment with 5.2cm length and 0.75cm thick at base.