Radiologic Assessment of Styloid Process Length in a Kurdish Population from Sulaymaniyah Using Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study

Section: Research Paper
Issue
Vol. 48 No. 1 (2026): Volume 48 Issue 1
Pages
31-37

Keywords:

Computed Tomography, Kurdish population, Styloid process

Abstract

Background: The styloid process (SP) is a cranial structure whose elongation may be clinically significant, particularly in Eagle syndrome.


Objectives: This study aimed to determine normative SP dimensions and the prevalence of elongation in a Kurdish population using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), and to analyze associations with age, gender, and height.


Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 individuals (250 males, 250 females; age 16–70 years) undergoing paranasal sinus MDCT at radiology centers in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq. SP length was measured bilaterally on 3D-reconstructed images. Elongation was defined as >30 mm.


Results: The mean right and left SP lengths were 26.42 ± 6.05 mm and 26.52 ± 5.94 mm, respectively. Males had significantly longer SPs than did females (right: 27.71 ± 6.04 mm vs. 25.14 ± 5.80 mm, left: 27.79 ± 5.83 mm vs. 25.25 ± 5.78 mm, p < 0.001). Elongated SPs (>30 mm) were seen with higher prevalence in men (right: 23.2%; left: 23.6%) than women (right: 16.4%; left: 14.8%, p = 0.0503). The 95th percentile for SP length is 38 mm (right) and 37 mm (left). There was a moderate correlation between SP length and height (r = 0.56 right, r = 0.54 left), while age had a weak correlation with SP length. Regression analysis found that age, height, and male gender were independent predictors of both SP length and risk of elongation.


Conclusion: Normative SP lengths in the Kurdish population vary by gender and height, with elongation more frequent in males and taller individuals. These results suggest that using population-specific reference values may improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce the risk of misinterpretation in clinical practice.

References

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Author

Salah M Fateh Faraj Faraj

Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Identifiers

DOI: 10.33899/acmm.v48.i1.61877

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1.
Radiologic Assessment of Styloid Process Length in a Kurdish Population from Sulaymaniyah Using Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study. Ann. coll. Med. Mosul [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 29 [cited 2026 Jul. 18];48(1):31-7. Available from: https://mmed.uomosul.edu.iq/index.php/mmed/article/view/61877

How to Cite

1.
Radiologic Assessment of Styloid Process Length in a Kurdish Population from Sulaymaniyah Using Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study. Ann. coll. Med. Mosul [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 29 [cited 2026 Jul. 18];48(1):31-7. Available from: https://mmed.uomosul.edu.iq/index.php/mmed/article/view/61877