Cavitation defects on the lingual ramus: a further expression of Stafne's defect.

Seven archaeological examples of 6,700 mandibles examined were found to have developmental cortical defects on the ramus. The defects, unusual in their position, were grossly and radiographically similar to developmental bone cavities (Stafne's) located in the sublingual region. Of the seven ramus defects, all of which were in adult males, six were in Alaskan Eskimos from Kodiak Island (N = 5) and Nelson Island (N = 1), and one was in a native American from Arkansas. Only five adult males from Finland have been reported with similar defects. A statistical examination of the metrics defining mandibular cavitation defects, along with prevalence data, suggest that the seemingly rare findings of ramus defects are an extreme manifestation of the continuum of severity of the Stafne's defect. Bilateral Stafne's defects also represent a severe manifestation.