Osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients on bisphosphonate treatment. review of literature with contribution of a case of multiple myeloma.

In recent years, the incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) as an unknown complication in patients receiving bisphosphonates (BP) has been on the increase. According to literature data it is in the range of 0.83% to 11.9%. ONJ has been mostly reported in patients with malignancies--mainly in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, followed by patients with bone metastases from breast and prostatic cancer. The view that is supported by a growing body of researchers in the discussion on the etiopathogenetic relationship between ONJ and BPs is that ONJ seems to be a class-specific side effect rather than a result of the use of a specific drug. The major risk factor for development of ONJ is not the BP type, but the time of their administration and accumulation in the bone structures. More than 70% of the ONJ patients report preceding dental problems. The immunosuppressive effects of chemo- and radiotherapy, the impaired bone remodeling resulting from corticoid therapy, the antiangiogenetic properties of thalidomide slow down the reparative processes in the oral cavity and appear as a predisposing factor for the development of ONJ. Possibilities for successful treatment are limited; conservative approaches and least surgery, if larger areas are involved, are recommended. Dental prophylaxis is of particular importance. We present a 66-year-old man with multiple myeloma, IgG, BJ(k), II A KC (after Durie and Salmon staging system). ONJ was diagnosed one year after the disease onset, during which the patient received chemotherapy and was administered concurrently 14 cycles of BPs (pamidronate/zolendronate). The diagnosis was based on clinical, radiologic and histological evidence. Surgical removal of the necrotic sequesters and antibiotic treatment produced a clinical improvement. This rare, refractory complication requires the joint efforts of hematologists, oncologists, and maxillofacial surgeons to diagnose, manage prophylactically and treat.