Cystic Conditions of the jawbones: A Review of Early Classification Systems.

Cystic conditions of the jawbones were recognized long before the establishment of the American Academy of Oral Pathology (AAOP) in 1948, but it was around this time when they were studied, characterized, and classified. The history of the classification systems implemented by oral pathologists to study the cystic conditions of the maxillary bones is intimately related with the birth of oral and maxillofacial pathology as a specialty of dentistry. The purpose of this paper is to review the early classification systems proposed for the cystic conditions of the jawbones.

[A paleopathological case of Stafne's defect of the mandible (the Rutigliano necropolis, Bari, 6th-4th century B.C.)]. / Un caso paleopatologico di difetto di Stafne della mandibola (necropoli di Rutigliano, Bari, VI-IV secolo a.C.)

Authors describes a paleopathological case of regional osseous atrophy of a human jaw dated from the Roman time and coming from Rutigliano (Bari). The atrophy was probably related to the compressive action of the lateral part of the submandibular salivary gland, such as the Stafne's defect. Authors discussed the differential diagnosis of this case and remarked the extreme rarity of this jaw pathology, especially in ancient times.

Three-dimensional representations of lingual cortical defects (Stafne's) using silicone impressions.

Lingual cortical defects of the mandible are common radiographic entities found predominantly in adult males. Due to the benign nature of these defects and infrequent need for exploratory surgery, few paleopathologists and clinicians have had the opportunity to examine their contents. The present study, using silicone impressions, provides three-dimensional representations reflecting the size and shape of soft-tissue masses once filling 10 unusually large lingual defects. The 10 specimens were chosen from an international sample of 6,330 dry mandibles, 115 of which had lingual cortical defects.

Idiopathic bone cavity on the posterior buccal surface of the mandible.

A cavity on the posterior buccal surface of four dry mandibles (n = 8282) is reported. The shape, size, unilaterality, and sex distribution of this phenomenon are similar to anterior and posterior idiopathic bone cavities (i.e., defects) on the lingual cortex. Posterior buccal mandibular defects differ from posterior lingual cavities in their unilateral occurrence and age distribution. The differential diagnosis for posterior buccal mandibular defects includes an anatomic variant, an aneurysmal erosion, erosion by a lymphoid nodule, and a neural neoplasm.

Solitary lesion of the mandible resembling a "Stafne cyst" in human archaeologic material from Mokapu, Hawaii.

The mandible of a pre-European contact Hawaiian adult displayed a unilateral depression on the inner surface on the third molar region near the angle. The roentgenographic appearance suggested a cystlike lesion lying below the lower border of the mandibular canal and 0.5 cm from the inferior border of the mandible which resembles a "Stafne cyst".