A Connective Tissue Neoplasm of the Mandibular Angle Mimicking Stafne's Bone Cavity on Panoramic View.

BACKGROUND

When assessing sharply delineated bone lesions of the mandibular angle on X-rays, numerous diagnoses must be considered. The static bone cavity (Stafne's bone cavity, SBC) is a harmless lingual bone depression of the mandibular angle that usually does not require any treatment. It is essential to differentiate this bone deformity from other lesions that may require treatment.

CASE REPORT: The 22-year-old patient was referred for further diagnosis and therapy after osteolysis of the mandible was noticed on a panoramic view (PV). The location and size of the lesion was typical of SBC. Only the three-dimensional representation of the lesion on cone beam computed tomographs revealed an intraosseous lesion. Histological examination of the lesion provided evidence of a fibrous neoplasm.

CONCLUSION

The typical image of SBC is ambiguous on plain radiographs such as PV. The radiological diagnosis of the lesion should be based on the representation of the region of interest in different planes.