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Stafne cyst

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

Stafne cysts (also known as static bone cavities of the mandible or lingual salivary gland inclusion defects ⁴) are incidental bone lesions that involve the mandible.

Strictly speaking they are not a cysts since they do not contain any fluid. They represent cortical defects near the angle of the mandible below the inferior alveolar canal. They are usually incidental findings, and represent a depression in the medial aspect of the mandible filled by part of the submandibular gland or adjacent fat.

Epidemiology

They are most frequently seen in middle-aged men. The estimated prevalence ranges around 0.10-0.48% ².

Pathology

Stafne cyst's are thought to result from remodeling of the bone by adjacent salivary tissue, and have been noted to regress following resection of the gland near by.

Location

Staphne cysts generally appear in the area between the mandibular first molar and the mandibular angle ⁶.

Differential diagnosis

Its main claim to fame, is that it should not be confused with other lytic lesions of the jaw.

Etymology

They are named after Edward C. Stafne an American dentist (1894-1981).

References

Synonyms & Alternative Spellings

Synonyms or Alternative Spelling	Include in Listings?
Static bone cavity of the mandible	✗
Lingual salivary gland inclusion defect	✓
Stafne bone cavity	✗
Stafne bone cavities	✗
Stafne cysts	✗
Stafne's cyst	✗
Lingual mandibular bone defect	✓