Re: Eagles Syndrome?

Posted By CCF Neuro[P]MD, RPS on March 28, 1999 at 21:29:19:

In Reply to: Eagles Syndrome? posted by Marguerite on March 10, 1999 at 12:15:26:






For years I have been plaqued with pain and a "cramping" sensation in my neck and throat and often difficulty in swallowing. However, recently I was diagnosed with an extensive and prominently calcified styloid process; thus "Eagles Syndrome". I can find no information on this and the head and neck surgeon that made this diagnosis said he had never seen anything like this, and also had not seen "eagles syndrome" in a decade. He said the whole ligament was calcified and was more or less at a loss as what to do. Now what? Would surgery be the only treatment and if left alone...what to expect?? And how risky is surgery if it is the only treatment? Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.




Dear Marquerite:
I have never seen a true Eagle's syndrome.  I have read about it but have little experience with it.  From my reading it is when the carotid artery's blood flow is compromised by the styloid process.  When it has been reported, the compromise in artery blood flow only occurs when the neck is turned in a certain position.  One can diagnose this by carotid doppler flow studies and the finding would be decrease blood flow only when the neck is positioned in a certain way.  Since this is a obstruction of blood flow, that area of the brain is deprived of oxygen carrying blood and ischemia can arise.  
Since this is a physical obstruction, I would assume that there might be degrees of blood flow constriction and that in mild cases surgery would not be necessary.  But, I can not say for sure.  It would seem to me that one would want to correct anything that would compromise brain blood flow.  Again, I am not experienced in this rare disorder.  
Forgive the delay in answering your posting.  Sometimes we get so busy that those postings down the list are not seen.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS