A Post Mortem Study of Elongated Styloid Processes in a Jamaican Population

Autopsy studies in predominantly Caucasian populations have suggested that elongated styloid processes occur bilaterally in 75% of cases without a sex prediliction. This is the first anthropometric study of elongated styloid processes in a Caribbean population. A retrospective observational study of all cadaver dissections at the University of the West Indies was performed over three years from January 2006 to January 2009. All dried skulls with styloid process lengths >30mm were studied in detail. Styloid process length and diameter were measured using a standardized caliper technique. There were 5 skulls with elongated styloid processes at a mean length of 4.58cm on the left side (SD +/-1.32; Range 3.2-6.3; Median 4.4; Mode -) and 3.58cm (SD +/-0.33; Range 3.2-4.0; Median 3.55; Mode -) on the right. The skulls were predominantly male (4:1 ratio) at a mean estimated specimen age of 60.4 years (SD +/-6.19; Range 50-65; Median 62; Mode 65). There were features of true elongation (uniformly contoured styloid processes with smooth, thick cortices and a rounded tip) in 4 male skulls while the sole female specimen had features suggestive of secondary ossification of the stylohyoid ligament (irregular surface with thickened segments extending toward the lesser horn of the hyoid bone with marked medial angulation). There may be an association between male sex, AfroCaribbean descent and a genetic predisposition to true SP elongation. Continued evaluation of a larger study cohort is required before a definitive association can be ascertained.