PREVALENCE OF STAFNE BONE DEFECT BY RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION: A STUDY FROM 3 CENTERS IN BRAZIL

Objective To investigate the prevalence of the Stafne bone defect (SBD) in the Brazilian population and to describe the clinical and radiographic characteristics of detected cases. Study Design A retrospective and observational study in 17,180 panoramic radiographs of patients with previous indication for this type of examination for dental treatment evaluated in 3 centers in Brazil. In each center, 2 researchers evaluated the images in a consensual way for the diagnosis of SBD, under the supervision of a third researcher who reached a final consensus in case of disagreement of the first two. Results Among the 17,180 patients, only 15 (0.08%) had SBD, 3 were female and 12 were male. The age range of patients with SBD was 30 to 69 years (mean age 49.2 years). Fourteen cases were diagnosed in the posterior region of the mandible body and 1 case in the ascending branch. Conclusions According to our results, SBD is an uncommon developmental anomaly most found in middle-aged male patients. It presents a typical radiographic appearance, with panoramic radiography being a valuable tool for the diagnosis of this condition. It is important that dental surgeons be able to diagnose SBD, in order to avoid unnecessary invasive surgical procedures.