Evaluation of Mandibular Trabecular Microarchitecture in Stafne Bone Cavity: A Pilot Study

Background: We evaluated whether mandibular trabecular microarchitecture, measured via fractal dimension (FD), influences Stafne bone cavity (SBC) development. Methods: In this study, 14 images (0.56%) containing SBC were identified among 2500 retrospectively reviewed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Among the detected SBCs, those with panoramic radiographs in the archive were included in the study. Two groups were formed based on panoramic images: an SBC group and a control group consisting of individuals without SBC, with a similar sample size. FD analysis was performed using ImageJ version 1.3 software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) on the panoramic radiographs of these two groups. Post hoc power analysis and Cohen's effect size were calculated to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results: No significant difference existed between the mean FDs of the SBC and control groups (p > 0.05). Mean FD values were slightly lower in SBC regions (1.18 ± 0.22), compared to other mandibular regions (~1.23-1.30). While FD averages were lower within SBC regions, effect size analysis showed negligible differences (d < 0.21) in posterior regions, indicating structural similarity. However, a large effect size (d = -0.85) in the canine-lateral region suggested a localized trend. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this pilot study, SBC does not appear to disrupt the surrounding trabecular structure of the mandible. The findings support the static and developmental nature of SBC.