Osteomylelitis and necrosis of the jaw in patients treated with bisphosphonates: A comparative study focused on multiple myeloma

S. Elad*, N. Yarom, W. Hamed, S. Ayalon, R. Yahalom, E. Regev

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

It was reported that multiple myeloma (MM)-patients suffer from a higher incidence of osteomyelitis and necrosis of the jaws than patients treated with bisphosphonates for other reasons. The aim of this study is to report about 57 cases of bisphosphonate-related osteomyelitis and necrosis of the jaws (BON) and to investigate the differences between BON in MM and non-MM patients. Clinical and laboratory data of 57 cases were assessed. The features of BON and clinical-outcome were compared between the two groups. Treatment approach was assessed as a contributing-factor to treatment-outcome. Clinical presentation included exposed bone, pain, swelling and suppuration with little variation between the two groups. Past dento-alveolar surgery was common in both study-groups. Treatment outcome was poor (33% and 25% responded to treatment in MM group and non-MM group, respectively). Treatment modality did not affect the treatment outcome. The clinical presentation described in this case series should alert the physician to the possibility of BON. Although the literature shows a higher incidence of BON in MM patients compared to non-MM patients, our study suggests that the severity of the clinical presentation and the response to treatment are not worse in MM patients compared with non-MM patients. The predisposition of MM patients to BON should be further investigated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)393-398
Number of pages6
JournalClinical and Laboratory Haematology
Volume28
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • Bisphosphonate
  • Jaw
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Myeloma
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Osteonecrosis

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