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Morphometric analysis of the stylohyoid complex

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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Stylohyoid complex is anatomical structure predisposed to numerous individual variations. These may result in its extreme elongation, medial deviation and finally Eagle’s syndrome occurrence. The aim of this study was to measure the length, angulation, evaluate morphological variations of stylohyoid complex by computed tomography and, subsequently, relate obtained data to the gender and the age of the evaluated cases.

Materials and methods

The material included CT scans of stylohyoid complexes of 282 individuals. The entire length, maximal thickness, and angulation of the stylohyoid complexes in the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes were measured.

Results

According to their morphology, orientation and length, stylohyoid complexes were classified into six morphological types. Elongated, bent, segmented, and segmented with attached stylohyoid ligament for the lesser horns of the hyoid bone stylohyoid complex types were characterized by significantly greater length, while pseudoarticulated type was characterized by significantly lower length in relation to normal stylohyoid complex type. The elongated type was additionally significantly thicker and with significantly lower value of medial angle in transverse plain than the normal stylohyoid complex type. Elongated, bent, and segmented types were significantly more frequent in males than in females. Furthermore, the frequency of the elongated stylohyoid complex type increased, whereas normal and pseudoarticulated types decreased with age.

Conclusions

In conclusion, elongated and more medially deviated stylohyoid complexes are more frequent in males than in females. Their more frequent presence in the older age groups indirectly connects this phenomenon with the aging process.

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Acknowledgments

Contract grant sponsor: Ministry of Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia; contract grant numbers: 175092 and III41017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Niš, Blvd. dr Zoran Djindjic 81, 18000, Niš, Serbia

    Sladjana Petrović, Zoran Radovanović & Nikola Stojković

  2. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

    Ivan Jovanović & Sladjana Ugrenović

  3. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

    Zoran Pešić & Ivica Vučković

  4. School of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

    Filip Petrović

Authors
  1. Sladjana Petrović
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  2. Ivan Jovanović
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  3. Sladjana Ugrenović
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  4. Zoran Radovanović
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  5. Zoran Pešić
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  6. Ivica Vučković
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  7. Nikola Stojković
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  8. Filip Petrović
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Correspondence to Sladjana Petrović.

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Petrović, S., Jovanović, I., Ugrenović, S. et al. Morphometric analysis of the stylohyoid complex. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 525–534 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1757-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1757-z

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