Atypical Stafne bone defect: a systematic review

Atypically located Stafne bone defects (SBDs) may be challenging to identify because they deviate from the typical posterior mandibular presentation. This systematic review aims to analyze and synthesize the radiographic, anatomical, and histological characteristics of atypically located SBDs reported in the literature and to assist clinicians in orienting the diagnostic hypothesis.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases up to January 2026. Eligibility criteria included English-language case reports and case series describing atypically located Stafne bone defects (SBDs). Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using an adapted assessment tool for case reports.