Characteristic Image Findings of Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Using Computed Tomography

Abstract

Bisphosphonates, have been used in clinical place for about 30 years (1). Marx was the first to report osteonecrosis of the jaw due to administration of BPs in 2003. Since then, many studies have showed that bisphosphonaterelated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a side effect of BP therapy (2, 3). Recently, many studies have showed that long interval use of bisphosphonates and other antiresorptive medications may cause osteonecrosis of the jaws (medicinerelated osteonecrosis of the jaws［MRONJ］) (4, 5). MRONJ has been determined as a complication associated with antiangiogenic medications and antiresorptive medications by american association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons (AAOMS) (6). And, MRONJ is defined by present or past treatment with antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents, exposed bone or bone that can be probed through an extraoral or intraoral fistula in the maxillofacial region that has persisted for longer than 8 weeks, and no history of radiation therapy to the jaws or obvious metastatic disease to the jaws (6, 7). The incidence of MRONJ reported in past literature is 0.8% to 18.5% (8). Also, the mandible was the site most frequently influenced by MRONJ (9). Therefore, many previous studies worldwide have been reported about MRONJ (10, 11) .