title: Anti-resorptive osteonecrosis of the jaws: facts forgotten, questions answered, lessons learned.
abstract: Osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with bisphosphonate and other anti-resorptive medications (ARONJ) has historically been a poorly understood disease process in terms of its pathophysiology, prevention and treatment since it was originally described in 2003. In association with its original discovery 11 years ago, non-evidence based speculation of these issues have been published in the international literature and are currently being challenged. A critical analysis of cancer patients with ARONJ, for example, reveals that their osteonecrosis is nearly identical to that of cancer patients who are naive to anti-resorptive medications. In addition, osteonecrosis of the jaws is not unique to patients exposed to anti-resorptive medications, but is also seen in patients with osteomyelitis and other pathologic processes of the jaws. This article represents a review of facts forgotten, questions answered, and lessons learned in general regarding osteonecrosis of the jaws.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, 1930 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA. Electronic address: ecarlson@mc.utmck.edu.
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, 1930 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schlott
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D059266:Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005096:Exostoses / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Bisphosphonates; Metastatic cancer; Osteomyelitis; Osteonecrosis; RANKL inhibitors; Resection