Elongated Stylohyoid Process: A Pathological or Physiological Phenomenon?

Background: Calcification and morphological variation are fairly common in patients presenting to oral and maxillofacial radiology clinics with stylohyoid complex. Objectives: The present study used digital radiography to investigate in detail whether or not elongated stylohyoid complex is linked to clinical symptoms, gender, and increased age. Finding such relationship can affect the diagnosis of the condition and the selection of treatments. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 186 patients aged 30 to 70 presenting to a private oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic in Rafsanjan, Iran, for digital dental panoramic radiography. All the patients completed a demographic questionnaire and clinical symptoms associated with stylohyoid complex. The chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare categorical variables, while independent two-sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare quantitative variables, in both men and women and across age groups. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 186 participants entered the study, consisting of 90 men (48.4%) and 96 women (51.6%). The mean stylohyoid process size was calculated as 27.08 ± 7.80. The most common radiographic morphology (on both the right and the left sides) was continuous, followed by pseudo calcified and segmental. The most common calcification pattern observed on both sides was completely calcified pattern, followed by partially calcified pattern, calcified outline, and nodular pattern. Conclusions: According to the results obtained, the calcification and elongation of the stylohyoid process as shown by radiography are more of a physiological than pathological phenomenon that exacerbates with age.