Background and purpose: Elongated styloid process and mineralization of stylohyoid ligament were ‎seen in 2 – 28% of patients on panoramic radiograph.This condition can create pain in head and neck region ‎or Eagle syndrome in some cases. The aim of this study was to assess the length of stylohyoidligament on ‎panoramic radiographs.‎ Materials and methods: In this cross -sectional study, panoramic radiographs of 800 patients ‎referring to oral and maxillofacial radiology department of Babol dental school were examined for ‎measurement of styloid process. Length of the styloid process was measured as the distance from the point ‎where the styloid process left the tympanic plate to the tip of the process. Processes measuring more than 30 ‎mm were considered as elongated. The collected data was analyzed using statistical analysis software, SPSS ‎‎18. The T-test, Spearman rho and one-way ANOVA were used for analysis. For all tests the p-value of <0.05 ‎was considered significant.‎ Results: The average length of the right styloid was 24.74(±6.99) mm and that of theleft styloid was ‎‎23.86(± 6.45) mm. The length of both styloids increased with age and males had longer styloids than ‎females.Elongated styloids were present in 19.8% of the panoramic radiographs, that 80(10%) showed ‎bilateral elongation of the styloid. Elongated styloid processes were more prevalent in the age-group of 30 – ‎‎50 years.‎ Conclusion: The results of this study was similar to previous studies. So,with considering the ‎relatively high prevalence of this lesion, the clinician must be pay attention to this lesion for diagnosis and ‎treatment of neck and head pain.‎

Keywords: Panoramic Radiography, Stylohyoid Ligament, Styloid Process

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