title: Skeletal complications of bisphosphonate use: what the radiologist should know.
abstract: Bisphosphonates are widely used for prevention of fractures in patients at risk, mainly in the presence of osteoporosis and bone metastases. A number of adverse effects of prolonged bisphosphonate treatment have emerged. We would like to highlight the skeletal complications from which a radiologist may be the first healthcare professional to recognise the association with bisphosphonate therapy. We illustrate these complications (namely osteonecrosis of the jaw and less well-known atypical femoral shaft fractures), presenting radiological findings in our patients. Recommendations for safer use of bisphosphonates are included in the conclusion of our review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D059266:Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates