Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: the radiologist's role.

ABSTRACT

In recent decades, the dreaded adverse effect of bisphosphonates, osteonecrosis of the jaw, has been widely reported and described in detail. Osteonecrosis of the jaw consists of the destruction of part of the maxilla as a consequence of these antiresorptive drugs. In recent years, new drugs that can also cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (e.g., some monoclonal antibodies or antiangiogenic drugs) have come on the market. For this reason, the term "bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw" has been replaced with "medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This review aims to describe the radiologic characteristics of MRONJ that, although nonspecific, radiologists need to recognize in the appropriate clinical context.