Retrospective study of the styloid process in a Taiwanese population using cone beam computed tomography

Abstract

Background/purpose Review of literature, evaluation of the styloid process (SP) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has not been performed in a Taiwanese population. Our study aimed to evaluate the different characteristics of SP using CBCT in a Taiwanese population. Materials and methods CBCT scans of 121 patients (55 males, 66 females; mean age, 27 ± 9.09 years) were evaluated to assess the length, morphological type, calcification pattern, and angulation of the SP. A SP length greater than or equal to 30.00 mm is considered to indicate an elongated SP (ESP). ESP was classified in terms of morphology as Type I: uninterrupted; Type II: pseudo-articulated; or Type III: segmented. The calcification pattern of SP was categorized as Type A: calcified outline; Type B: partially calcified; Type C: nodular; or Type D: completely calcified. The transverse and sagittal angles between the bilateral SP were also measured. Results One-hundred and nine patients had a bilateral SP and 12 patients had a unilateral SP. The mean SP length was 26.34 ± 7.44 mm. Forty-two (34.71%) patients had an ESP. The most common ESP morphology was Type 1, followed by Type II, then Type III, while the calcification pattern prevalence was of the descending order Type B, Type A, Type C, and Type D. The mean transverse and sagittal angles were 66.90 ± 5.41° and 26.67° ± 6.50°, respectively. Conclusion The present study was the first to evaluate the characteristics of SP in a Taiwanese population using CBCT. The data contribute a useful basis for clinical investigation of the SP in future.

Will cone-beam computed tomography add new to the stylohyoid complex analysis?

“…The mean MLA was significantly greater in males than females (70.4 o and 69.3 o respectively). This was similar to Basekim et al, (16) (70.5° and 68.7°) and Chu et al (34) (67.54° and 66.38°) for males and females respectively. On the contrary, greater values for female subjects were found by Buyuk et al (1) (70.34° and 72.23° for males and females respectively).…”

“…In the whole sample, the mean right MLA was greater than the left (70.3° and 69.1° respectively) which agrees with Ramadan et al (3) and Chu et al (34) . However, Yılmaz et al (33) reported greater MLA values for the left side.…”

“…(10) In the current study, the most prevalent calcification pattern was type B (partial). This was similar to CBCT studies by Öztunç et al, (8) Javadian Langaroodi et al, (40) and Chu et al (34) However, Buyuk et al (1) and Kailasam et al (13) found that type A (calcified outline) was the most frequent.…”

“…Slightly higher mean values were reported by Buyuk et al, (1) Ramadan et al (3) and Onbas et al (26) (70.81 o , 72 o and 72.7° respectively). Lower mean values were reported by Ilgüy et al, (20) Anderi et al (10) and Chu et al (34) (66.4 o , 66.74° and 66.9° respectively).…”

“…In the present study, total sample mean APA was 29.5 o and females showed statistically significant smaller values than males (28.7 o and 31 o respectively). İlgüy et al (20) found mean APA of 25.6° (27.1° and 23.8° in females and males respectively), and Chu et al (34) reported mean value of 26.67 o (27.62 o and 25.51 o in females and males respectively). In contrast to our work, both studies found that mean APA values of females were significantly greater than males.…”