An atypical Stafne cavity – Multi-chamber bone lesion with buccal expansion

A case report

Abstract

In the literature Stafne bone cavities are mostly described for male patients in their fifth and sixth decade. Usually the lingual cavities appear as ovoid lesions located unilateral in the molar region of the lower jaw underneath the inferior alveolar nerve. Classically they contain parts of the submandibular gland. This case study describes a patient who was referred to the authors’ clinic with a cavity in the right lower jaw extending over a mesio­distal diameter of 24 mm. Its appearance on panoramic x­ray and cone beam computer tomography (CTBT) was incon­clusive. The diagnosis could finally be made after magnetic res­onance imaging (MRI). It was based on the content of gland, fat and lymphatic tissue in a lingual open cavity, which is a charac­ teristic feature of Stafne bone cavities. Assumed aetiology and differential diagnosis are discussed.