Scans
I tried opening a topic a few days ago, didn’t knew about the permission thing. Will try uploading again now. The scan is from 2020 and I requested it at the hospital some weeks ago. Also did more analyzing in the past days, so I clarified some things in the meanwhile. I’m very curious about what you all think and perhaps recommend for me.
This is the 3D image, as you can see my under jaw is unfortunately missing. But there’s something visible that I think shouldn’t be there.
So as you can see it’s not a giant calcification, but what I also see it’s right where you don’t want it to be: next to my jugular vein. I need to request new scans anyway, but an ENT doctor said a week ago I don’t have an elongated styloid proces and thus no Eagle. It’s psychosomatic, he said.
@Brad1994 - I’m glad you were able to post your images. It doesn’t look like your styloids are long, BUT it does look like you have stylohyoid ligament calcification which can cause the same or similar problems as having elongated styloids. I also need to say that styloids which are normal length can also cause things like IJV compression if they are very angled, thick, curved, etc. It’s hard to tell what your styloids are like from the images you have.
Is there another doctor you can see to request updated imaging? If so, try to get a CT w/ contrast w/ your head in the position that makes your symptoms worse. If there is no particular head position that causes a problem then getting the scan w/ your head in neutral is also fine. Request that the radiology lab provides some 3D images of your styloids & hyoid bone when they process your images. That will make it easier for you & us to potentially see what’s going on.
@Isaiah_40_31 That’s also what I concluded. On the picture with the green arrow and the IJV made red, it seems pretty close to my IJV. What I experience is fluctuations of symptoms all the time, and it does feel to me like that exact spot is the main source of problems. Therapists would say iT’s A tRiGgEr PoInT, but now I’m sure it’s something more serious.
Symptoms typically get worse when I turn my head to the right, so I’ll suggest that too when I see an ENT doctor again. Will also note your other suggestions. I found an ENT doctor on the list as well. I requested at my GP to be forwarded to him and I’m now awaiting a response on that. Thanks!
Hi & welcome to the site! Without a CT with contrast it can be hard to tell whether blood vessels are being compressed, I would say that in the last image you posted it looks like there’s a reasonable distance between the styloid & the cervical vertebrae processes, which is usually where we see compression of the IJV, but maybe with your head turned that gap alters, & of course the calcification could be worse now than 4 years ago…I agree with what you & @Isaiah_40_31 have said that it looks like the stylo-hyoid ligament is calcified rather than elongated processes. We have had members who have smaller calcifications which cause symptoms, so it’s worth trying to get an up to date CT done.
Hi! I actually totally agree with that. I believe the IJV isn’t actually compressed (or perhaps just a little) on these pictures, but what I can see is that it could easily happen because of that calcified ligament there. In this area, there’s always throbbing which usually makes me unable to lie on my side. There’s also inflammation in that area. And it’s fluctuating so much. It can be acceptable all day, then suddenly start again. And when it’s bad, I’ll experience a lot of pressure and a strong sucking feeling, with declining cognitive function and bad memory, for instance. This can also suddenly (partially) relieve to an acceptable point. There’s unfortunately never a full relieve of my symptoms, regardless everything I’ve tried.
Also I did an MRI in the same month, so perhaps something might be visible there. I didn’t draw any conclusions looking at these yet. I’ll just share two perspectives from the side right here. If you need another perspective, I could perhaps share it as well.
I don’t see any of the structures that are relevant to ES in the IMRI images you posted, but then I’m not good at recognizing things in MRI without some help.
CT scans look very clear, but MRI images look way more complicated. I’d need more time to figure out if everything here looks allright, but since I already know a calcified stylohyoid ligament is present, I’ll focus on getting a new scan now. Another problem is that I suspect it’s also at the other side. Anyway, my GP forwarded me to the ENT doctor that was on the list here. I’ll hopefully be invited soon. I’m now awaiting an invitation from that hospital.
The symptoms you describe do sound similar to IJV compression symptoms that others have had, so it’s worth exploring. I couldn’t lay on the worst side when I had IJV compression, the only way I could sleep was propped up with several pillows (it’s worth trying that if you haven’t already done that, it helps with the head pressure & is better than laying flat) .
I’m not knowledgeable at all about MRI images- raised head pressure (which can happen with compressed IJVs) can show signs which can be seen in MRI images, but I wouldn’t be able to comment on that. Some of our members are knowledgeable enough to spot these, but unfortunately some of them aren’t on here at the moment…
