Possible Association of Styloid Process Calcification in TMD Subjects-A Cross-Sectional CBCT Analysis

Vijayalakshmi N Gachinamath¹*, Kruthika S Guttal², Atul P Sattur², Krishna N Burde² and Kirty R Nandimath³

¹Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, PMNM Dental College and Hospital, Bagalkote
²Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SDM College of Dental Sciences, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India
³Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SDM College of Dental Sciences, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding Author: Vijayalakshmi N Gachinamath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, PMNM Dental College and Hospital, Bagalkote.

Received: April 30, 2024; Published: May 26, 2024

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate possible associations between types of calcification of the styloid process and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Study design: A cross-sectional study

Materials and Methods: An analysis of available CBCT images of patients in the age group of 18–70 years diagnosed with TMD and patients subjected to radiographic evaluation for other reasons has been evaluated. Images that are clear, symmetrical, and undistorted were evaluated.

Images were evaluated for length of styloid process linearly on reconstructed sagittal slices of CBCT (from the inferior most part of the external auditory meatus to the inferior most calcified portion), and for calcification patterns such as elongated, pseudo-segmented, and segmented types.
CBCT images of patients with a history of trauma, radiation therapy, and TMJ surgery, having collagen, vascular, or neurological disorders, or distorted images has been excluded. CBCT radiographs in each group were evaluated by two experienced maxillofacial radiologists.
The comparisons of the types of styloid process calcification between TMD and non-TMD patients were analyzed using the chi-square test.
The current study's findings are similar to those of a study conducted on the Brazilian population by Kelly Machado de Andrade., et al. There was a statistically significant percentage of people in group B (non-TMD) who had less than 30 mm of styloid process, with a mean value of 38.3%.
According to Merve Donmez., et al., among the elongated styloid processes, the type I pattern of calcification was the most frequent type on both sides, but in the present study, type 3 pattern (segmented) was more frequently observed in TMD patients. The reliability kappa value was 0.599, suggesting average reliability.
The limitations of the present study are the smaller sample size and lack of clinical symptoms. Further studies need to be done to correlate the clinical symptoms and radiographic findings of the styloid process in both groups with a larger sample size.

Keywords: Styloid Process; Temporomandibular Joint Disorder; TMD; CBCT; Eagle's Syndrome

References

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Citation

Citation: Vijayalakshmi N Gachinamath., et al. “Possible Association of Styloid Process Calcification in TMD Subjects-A Cross-Sectional CBCT Analysis".Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 8.6 (2024): 55-60.

Copyright

Copyright: Vijayalakshmi N Gachinamath., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.