THE IMPORTANCE OF CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF STAFNE BONE DEFECT

Stafne bone defects are asymptomatic lingual bone depressions of the lower jaw that are frequently caused by submandibular salivary gland inclusion. A 64-year-old male patient was referred to the radiology clinic for evaluation of a root fracture in the left mandibular first permanent molar using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). On the panoramic reconstruction, a hypodense image was observed, with a rounded shape, well delimited by a hyperdense halo, located in the mandibular body and below the mandibular canal, suggestive of a Stafne bone defect or cystic and tumor lesion. Through the multiplanar and 3-dimensional reconstructions, an image compatible with bone depression was identified in the lingual cortical bone, confirming the diagnosis of Stafne bone defect. The CBCT is a complementary exam indicated for the diagnosis of the Stafne bone defect, since it allows visualization of the concavity present in the lingual cortical bone, ruling out other pathologies.