Facial pain due to elongated styloid process
A 45-year-old female patient reported to our maxillofacial unit with the chief complaint of pain on swallowing, a swelling in the throat, and vague facial pain over the right face and temple region. The pain never crossed midline. She also complained of pain on turning the head toward the left side and some unusual sensation in the tongue. These complaints, according to the patient, had been for 2 years. She had been administered non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, carbamazepine by some practitioners without any response.\nAfter a series of questioning and examination, a mass was palpable in the right tonsillar region. She did not have any extra-oral swelling or asymmetry. Her cervical lymph nodes were not palpable. All teeth were present and in good shape. It was easy on our part to rule out odontogenic pain. She neither had any history of tonsillar surgery nor could she remember any history of trauma. Her computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an elongated styloid process (33 mm) of the right side []. The temporomandibular joint appeared normal. She was planned for resection of the styloid process [Figure -]. An extraoral approach was carried out for the resection. She did not sustain any injury to the facial nerve or any vessels. The patient has been under regular follow-up and is free of the pre-operative symptoms.