Eagle's syndrome represents a group of symptoms that includes recurrent throat pain, globus pharyngeus, dysphagia, referred otalgia, and neck pain possibly caused by elongation of the styloid process or ossification of the stylohyoid or stylomandibular ligaments. The medical history and physical and radiologic examinations are the main guides to the precise diagnosis.
Two possible causes of the syndrome are elongation of the styloid process and ossification of the stylohyoid or stylomandibular ligaments. (1-3) Eagle considered any styloid process greater than 25 mm--the approximate length of the normal styloid process in adults--to be elongated.