Styloidogenic Jugular Venous Compression Syndrome: A Rare Vascular Variant of Eagle Syndrome

AND IMPORTANCE: Styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome, a recently recognized vascular variant of Eagle syndrome, a rare condition caused by the elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, occurs when the internal jugular vein is compressed between the styloid process and C1 transverse process, leading to a spectrum of neurovascular and cervicofacial symptoms....

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Audiologists should keep styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome on the radar when evaluating patients with pulsatile tinnitus and positional head/neck symptoms, and refer for specialist vascular imaging; this single case report does not support any change to audiology assessment protocols.

As a vascular cause of pulsatile tinnitus — a symptom audiologists frequently assess — awareness of this Eagle syndrome variant is important for timely, appropriate specialist referral and avoiding unnecessary audiological investigation.

1. 01Styloidogenic jugular venous compression is a rare vascular variant of Eagle syndrome caused by an elongated styloid process.
2. 02Pulsatile tinnitus, intracranial hypertension-like symptoms, and positional neck pain are key features.
3. 03Diagnosis requires dynamic vascular imaging (e.g., CT venography with head rotation).
4. 04Surgical styloidectomy can decompress the jugular vein and resolve symptoms.
5. 05Audiologists should flag positional pulsatile tinnitus for neurosurgical/ENT vascular referral.

PMID

42910382

DOI

10.1227/neuprac.0000000000000293.

Journal

Neurosurgical Practice

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

Patient(s) with styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome as a vascular variant of Eagle syndrome

Intervention

Diagnosis and surgical management (styloidectomy) of jugular venous compression