Chronic oropharyngeal pain and medical nomadism in an Eagle's syndrome patient: a case report.
Case report
Mechanical allodynia
Medical nomadism
Orofacial pain
Styloid process
Journal
Journal of medical case reports
ISSN: 1752-1947
Titre abrégé: J Med Case Rep
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101293382
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
12 May 2022
12 May 2022
Historique:
received:
02
05
2020
accepted:
14
02
2022
entrez:
13
5
2022
pubmed:
14
5
2022
medline:
18
5
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Elongation of the styloid process associated with oropharyngeal pain and dysphagia is known as Eagle's syndrome, a condition whose pathophysiology is still a matter of debate. Given its low prevalence and complex symptomatology, this syndrome is often misdiagnosed, leading to chronic pain and medical nomadism. A 51-year-old woman of African origin with 3-year history of left-side oropharyngeal pain and worsening dysphagia consulted several health professionals. Medical and surgical treatments, including a sinus surgery and the extraction of three healthy teeth, did not improve her symptoms. Evaluation in an orofacial pain clinic revealed an asymmetrically elongated styloid process. Surgical shortening of the elongated styloid process provided complete pain relief and recovery of normal swallowing function. Based on this case report, the pathophysiology of Eagle's syndrome is discussed, and the need for specific follow-up in a subpopulation of patients with asymptomatic styloid process elongation is highlighted.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Elongation of the styloid process associated with oropharyngeal pain and dysphagia is known as Eagle's syndrome, a condition whose pathophysiology is still a matter of debate. Given its low prevalence and complex symptomatology, this syndrome is often misdiagnosed, leading to chronic pain and medical nomadism. A 51-year-old woman of African origin with 3-year history of left-side oropharyngeal pain and worsening dysphagia consulted several health professionals. Medical and surgical treatments, including a sinus surgery and the extraction of three healthy teeth, did not improve her symptoms. Evaluation in an orofacial pain clinic revealed an asymmetrically elongated styloid process. Surgical shortening of the elongated styloid process provided complete pain relief and recovery of normal swallowing function.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Based on this case report, the pathophysiology of Eagle's syndrome is discussed, and the need for specific follow-up in a subpopulation of patients with asymptomatic styloid process elongation is highlighted.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35551641
doi: 10.1186/s13256-022-03372-0
pii: 10.1186/s13256-022-03372-0
pmc: PMC9102724
doi:
Types de publication
Case Reports
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
201Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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