Prevalencia de mineralización del complejo estilohioideo en radiografías panorámicas digitales

The stylohyoid complex is a bone and ligamentous structure formed by several anatomical entities such as: the styloid process, the stylohyoid ligament and the horn of the hyoid. The styloid process originates in the tympanic portion of the temporal bone and measures an average of 25 mm; sometimes it may be increased in length, a situation that may or may not manifest itself with pain. OBJECTIVE: Determinate the prevalence of mineralization of the stylohyoid complex in digital panoramic radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study were analyzed 2025 digital panoramic radiographs of patients of both sexes, in ages from 12 to 92 years, in the period 2015-2016. All those panoramic radiographs were the stylohyoid complex exceed 25 mm, were considered as a mineralized. RESULTS: Of a total of 2025 panoramic radiographs examined, 1206 (59,6%) radiographs showed some type of mineralization of the stylohyoid complex. Of these 766 belong to the female sex and 440 to the male sex. The age range of the patients in this investigation was from 12 to 92 years, presenting more bilaterally (33.98%). In addition, it was found that 76% of the cases belonging to the age group of older adults, was the most prevalent. CONCLUSION: The present study shows a high prevalence of mineralization of the stylohyoid complex (59,6%), in comparison with other studies in different places of the world. The average length of the mineralized stylohyoid complex in older adults was 33mm on the right side and 32.7mm on the left side.