Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Case contributed by Hoe Han Guan
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Periodontitis with pus discharge from the right alveolar process of maxilla with underlying multiple myeloma.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
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Info

Well marginated area of osteolysis in the right maxillary alveolar process including the right medial, lateral incisors and canine. It involves the outer and inner cortices of the bone. Separated piece of bone within osteolysis is in keeping with bony sequestrum.
Endentulous alveolar process of maxilla except left canine.

No abnormal periosteal reaction.

Multiple mixed lytic-sclerotic bony lesions scattered throughout the imaged bone.

Case Discussion

Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious complication sequela from the treatment with drugs that are primarily used to prevent skeletal events associated with bony metastases or osteoporosis.

This patient has multiple myeloma, treated with weekly medication of bortezomib and history of intravenous bisphosphonate/zolcdronic acid, which are the drugs highly associated with MRONJ.

Dental check up before and after treatment are mandatory. Patients must be aware about the risk of this condition and report immediately if presence of any oral symptoms to physicians.

Imaging features for MRONJ are osteosclerosis, osteolysis, sequestration, periosteal proliferation or soft tissue inflammation.

Top differential diagnosis to be discerned from MRONJ is osteoradionecrosis, which are indistinguishable from imaging point of view. But those patients with osteroradionecrosis would have history of radiotherapy in the concerned area.

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