Stafne defect

The Stafne defect, first described in 1942,[1] is a depression of the mandible on the side nearest the tongue. It was previously known by many names, including static bone cyst,[2] Stafne idiopathic bone cavity,[3] and salivary gland inclusions in the mandible,[4] but is now known as a pseudocyst. The depression usually allows for the presence of a salivary gland.

Radiographically, it is a well-circumscribed radiolucency with a sclerotic border, and presents without any symptoms. It is usually a developmental defect of the jaw.

An early case of Stafne's defect has been discovered in a 7th century BC adult male individual from Klazomenai, one of the 12 cities of the Ionian League (now in modern Turkey) [5].

References

  1. ^ Stafne, EC. Bone cavities situated near the angle of the mandible. JADA 1942;29:1969–1972.
  2. ^ Rushton, MA. Solitary bone cysts in the mandible. Br Dent J 1946;81:37-49
  3. ^ Barakat, N; AbouChedid, J. Cavite idiopathic mandibulaires. Rev Dent Liban 1973;23:35-40
  4. ^ Seward, GR. Salivary gland inclusions in the mandible. Br Dent J 1960;108:321-325
  5. ^ A. Agelarakis and R. Cohen, “Stafne Cavity on a 7th c. BC Klazomenaean Hoplite Warrior”, Book of Abstracts, 37th Annual Meeting of the American Paleopathology Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 13-14, 2010