A 49-year-old asymptomatic male patient was referred to a private clinic in order to undergo routine panoramic radiography. Results showed an oval-shaped, radiolucent area of cystic aspect and regular, well-defined cortical outline; its longest axis was placed horizontally in the left hemimandible. This lithic area, located under the lower left third molar, was anterior to the mandibular angle, and reached the border of the mandible, which showed thinner than normal width due to the presence of the bone defect. The apparent unity of the upper contour of the lesion and the upper wall of the mandibular canal gave them a thicker than normal appearance. The fact that the lower wall of the mandibular canal was visible within the radiolucent area showed that there could be a neighboring relationship, but not an involvement, of the inferior alveolar nerve ().\nAs a hard buccal protuberance was perceived on palpation, a CT was performed. The coronal view in the CT scan showed that there had been a distention of the mandibular buccal cortex and that glandular tissue had been spreading into the bone defect. A further coronal view revealed the buccal location of the mandibular canal, which was preserved (Figures and ).\nA previous scintigraphy revealed an inflammatory condition associated with an obstructive process involving the submandibular glands, particularly on the left side ().
A 76-year-old at death male Caucasian cadaveric head (fresh-frozen) was dissected. During routine dissection of the head, the mandible was dissected, and the soft tissues of the mandible were removed. After the mandible was separated from the head, a large bony defect was found on the lingual surface of the right mandible, which was located 25.2 mm anterior to the angle of the mandible and 3.3 mm superior to the inferior border of the mandible. The shape and size of the bony defect was oval and 10.8×6.0 mm, respectively (, ). The bony defect had a smooth surface and did not show any pathological condition. Therefore, it was determined to be an SBC. The SBC had continuity with the right mylohyoid groove. The depth of the SBC and width of the mandible at the SBC was 4.15 mm, 3.14 mm, respectively. The SBC was not observed on the left side.