title: Maxilla Osteonecrosis: a differential diagnosis in patients with metastatic cancer on bisphosphonates.
abstract: Bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the mandible and/or maxilla is an increasingly recognized, though still rare complication of bisphosphonate therapy. In the present case, the patient presented with a seven-month history of maxillary sinusitis and pain, and was originally diagnosed with a bony metastasis from her primary breast cancer. However, surgical excision and biopsy led to a diagnosis of bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the maxilla. As bisphosphonates are often prescribed for patients with metastatic disease, it is important to recognize that bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis may present similarly to bony metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Birkeland
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Spector
keywords: Osteonecrosis; bisphosphonates; maxilla; metastasis