Volume 30, Issue 168, February 2026

Eagle Syndrome: Innovative Approaches to Diagnosis and Management - A Narrative Review

Natalia Kruszewska^1♦, Natalia Rosół², Michał Cholewiński³, Paweł Szajewski⁴, Justyna Kącikowska⁵, Agata Pluta⁶, Alicja Pełszyk⁷, Justyna Łapicka⁸, Daria Marciniak⁹, Natalia Ziółkowska¹⁰, Adrianna Kępa¹¹

¹Provincial Hospital in Poznań, ul. Juraszów 7/19, 60-479 Poznań, Poland
²Institute of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
³Warszawski Szpital Południowy Rotmistrza Witolda Pileckiego 99, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
⁴Dr. Anna Gostyńska Wolski Hospital, Marcina Kasprzaka 17, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
⁵Dr. Anna Gostyńska Wolski Hospital, Marcina Kasprzaka 17, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland
⁶New Hospital in Olkusz Al 1000-lecia 13, 32-300 Olkusz, Poland
⁷Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
⁸Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
⁹Międzyleski Szpital Specjalistyczny, Bursztynowa 2, 04-749 Warsaw, Poland
¹⁰Central Clinical Hospital of the University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Banacha 1A 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
¹¹Wielospecjalistyczny Szpital Miejski im. Józefa Strusia, ul. Szwajcarska 3, 61-285 Poznań, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Natalia Kruszewska, Provincial Hospital in Poznań, ul. Juraszów 7/19, 60-479 Poznań, Poland

ABSTRACT

Eagle Syndrome (ES) is a condition caused by elongation of the styloid process or deformity of the stylohyoid ligament. This abnormal process disrupts the function of adjacent anatomical structures. The symptoms of the disease are diverse and nonspecific. Patients commonly experience recurrent pain in the neck and face, dysphagia, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Clinicians diagnose using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT). Therapeutic management involvement includes pharmacological and surgical treatment options. The most effective treatment is styloidectomy via an intraoral approach or external access. This review summarises existing knowledge on Eagle syndrome, including anatomical features, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options.

Keywords: Eagle Syndrome, Styloid Process Elongation, Headache, Cervical Pain

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e29ms3777

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i168.e29ms3777

Published: 12 February 2026