Osteonecrosis of the Torus Palatinus in the Setting of Long-Term Oral Bisphosphonate Use--A Case Report.

Bisphosphonates are medications used orally and intravenously for a variety of conditions including cancer metastatic to bone, hypercalcemia of malignancy, Paget's disease and osteoporosis. Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been related to bisphosphonate use. Osteonecrosis of the jaw most commonly occurs in the setting of intravenous bisphosphonate use and concomitant dental work or trauma. Oral bisphosphonates have much less risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. We present an interesting case of a patient on an oral bisphosphonate for an extended period of time (nine years), with a torus palatinus, who burned her palate while eating a slice of pizza. Over six months later, she presented with an area of denuded bone and diagnosis consistent with osteonecrosis of the torus palatinus.