Prevalence of elongated styloid process in panoramic radiographs of adult and elderly populations

Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence, classification, and average size of elongated styloid processes (ESP) in panoramic radiographs of adults and older adults. Methods: A total of 851 panoramic radiographs, taken between January 2018 and December 2022 at a private imaging clinic in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil, were retrospectively analyzed. The prevalence of ESP was 29.6%, with 30.5% in men and 28.9% in women (p=0.620), and 26.3% in adults versus 40.6% in older adults (p<0.001). The average sizes were 36 ± 6.2 mm on the right side and 35.6 ± 5.9 mm on the left side. Bilateral cases accounted for 73%, while right-sided and left-sided occurrences were 11.5% and 15.5%, respectively. Data analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS 22.0, applying Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests with a 95% significance level. Results: The prevalence of ESP was consistent with previous studies in the Brazilian population. Larger average sizes were observed in men and older adults, with a predominance of bilateral cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of ESP identified in panoramic radiographs aligns with existing literature, highlighting larger average sizes in men and older adults, along with a marked tendency for bilateral occurrences.