Spontaneous bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the left hemi-mandible: similarities with phossy jaw

Indian J Dent Res. 2012 Sep-Oct;23(5):683-5. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.107408.

Abstract

Intravenous bisphosphonates (BP) play a key role in the treatment of bone metastases. As a long-term side effects BP, a form of avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported. Although, invasive oral local procedures are often present in clinical history of patients suffering from bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ), about up to 50% of BRONJ are spontaneous. We report a case of a 68-year-old female with a spontaneous wide bone sequestration of the left mandibular body onset after infusion of zoledronic acid for 18 cycles for osseous metastasis due to metastatic anaplastic thyroidal carcinoma. Surprisingly the clinical aspects of the patient initially reminded us of the famous pathology described in 1899 called phossy jaw. This case is remarkable not only for the spontaneity of the osteonecrosis, but, above all, for the clinical similarity with cases of phossy jaw, described for the first time in the literature, thereby suggesting a potential common pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / diagnosis*
  • Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / surgery
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / adverse effects
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / secondary
  • Diphosphonates / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mandibular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Mandibular Diseases / surgery
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Zoledronic Acid

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates
  • Imidazoles
  • Zoledronic Acid