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First, thank you for giving us the opportunity to respond. Pain is one of the most common symptoms in Eagle Syndrome (ES). This pain may indicate or spread to the ear, jaw and may occur as otalgia or temporomandibular joint pain. Pharyngeal symptoms are also commonly reported in cases of ES. These complaints range from dysphagia/odynophagia, foreign body sensation, pain with yawning, or pain with turning of the head [1]. In addition to pain, various neurological complaints may be associated with ES [2]. Eagle syndrome has also been associated with potentially catastrophic complications. The literature contains many reports of transient ischemic attacks and stroke being associated with ES.
The wide range of clinical symptoms of ES makes it difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis of ES is clinical and made by combining symptoms, physical examination, and radiologic evidence. Computed tomography (CT) scans represent the gold standard for diagnosis of an elongated styloid process [3, 4]. In our study, we used 3D‑CT images due to the prevalence of CT use and its use as the gold standard. In the diagnosis of ES, the authors suggested that the head and neck region be evaluated with MRI and ultrasonography at different positions of the head: rest position, maximum extension, maximum flexion of the head, maximum right and maximum left rotation. However, since the symptoms of ES are nonspecific and the first pathological condition that comes to mind from the clinical symptoms is not ES, CT is performed first in these patients. In addition, the cost of MRI and ultrasonoghrophy to be taken in different positions and the compliance of patients with these examing should be taken into consideration. We think that it is more useful to evaluate the styloid process with clinical symptoms on 3D‑CT images and to apply MRI and ultrasonoghrophy if necessary.
References
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Todo T, Alexander M, Stokol C, Lyden P, Braunstein G, Gewertz B (2012) Eagle syndrome revisited: cerebrovascular complications. Ann Vasc Surg 26:729.e1–729.e5
Badhey A, Jategaonkar A, Kovacs AJA, Kadakia S, De Deyn PP, Ducic Y, Schantz S, Shin E (2017) Eagle syndrome: a comprehensive review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 159:34–38
Pokharel M, Karki S, Shrestha I, Shrestha BL, Khanal K, Amatya RCM (2013) Clinicoradiologic evaluation of Eagle’s syndrome and its management. Kathmandu Univ Med J 11:305–309
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This reply refers to the article available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05678-0
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Ayyildiz, V.A., Senel, F.A., Dursun, A. et al. In reply to: “Dynamic imaging in suspected eagle syndrome”. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 309 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05703-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05703-2