Stafne defect; Stafne idiopathic bone cavity

Epidemiology

• uncommon
• develops between 11 & 30 years of age

Pathology

• depression of the mandible on the lingual surface
• may be normal variant
• depression is created by ectopic salivary gland tissue associated with the submandibular gland
• pseudocyst, since there is no epithelial lining or fluid content

Clinical manifestations

• asymptomatic

Radiology

• plain radiograph or CT may demonstrate lesion

Differential diagnosis

• metastases to the mandible

Management

• no treatment needed

Notes

• first described in 1942 by Edward C. Stafne

More general terms

• pseudocyst
• bone cyst