A 66-year-old healthy man was referred from a private dental clinic for evaluation of a multilocular radiolucency at the left molar region of the mandible. Panoramic radiograph revealed a well-defined multilocular radiolucent area under the mandibular canal at the distal root of the second molar tooth (). The lesion showed three lobulated radiolucencies with radiopaque margins in the region of the submandibular gland fossa. On clinical examination, there was no sign of infection, fistula, or nerve damage. No history of expansion on the left mandibular angle area was recorded. The patient had no systemic disease and no specific medical history.\nCBCT scan was recommended for further study. Axial CBCT images showed a lingual bony defect located at the lingual side of the mandibular canal (). Coronal CBCT images showed a lobulated bony defect below the mandibular canal (). The maximum mesiodistal length of the defect was 14.16 mm, and the height was 7.38 mm. The maximum buccolingual length of the defect was 4.44 mm, not showing the expansion or thinning of the buccal cortical bone.\nParasagittal CBCT images showed three lobulated radiolucencies with radiopaque margins between the mandibular canal and the inferior border of the mandible (). Three-dimensional, reformatted CBCT images revealed a bony defect extending from the medial surface of the mandible ().\nThe lesion was diagnosed as a developmental salivary gland defect from the radiographic features. The patient was informed about the lesion and was scheduled for follow-up.
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.