Osteonecrosis of the maxilla in a patient on ibandronate: A case report

Abstract

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) was initially described in 2003 [1,2]. It is a potentially serious condition characterized by exposure of bone in the mandible or maxilla, persisting for more than 8 weeks in a patient, who has taken or is currently taking a therapeutic bisphosphonate and has no history of therapeutic radiation of the jaw [3]. The incidence of BRONJ seems to be relatively low in patients receiving oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis or Paget’s disease (1:10,000– 1:100,000) and considerably higher in patients with malignancy receiving high doses of intravenous bisphosphonates (1:10–1:100) [4]. We report an interesting case of BRONJ in osteoporotic woman, receiving ibandronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate.