title: Computed tomographic assessment of early changes of the mandible in bisphosphonate-treated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the computed tomography (CT) features of mandibular cancellous and cortical bones between patients with bisphosphonate (BP) administration and those without and to assess the early changes of the mandible in BP-treated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four BP-treated patients suffering from medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) were enrolled in this study. For comparison, 20 patients suffering from osteomyelitis and 20 patients without pathology in the jaw were also enrolled, all of whom did not receive BP treatment. The CT values of the cancellous and cortical bone and the cortical bone widths were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the MRONJ and osteomyelitis groups, there were significant differences in the CT values of cancellous and cortical bones between the affected and unaffected areas. In patients with stage 0 MRONJ, a significant difference was noted in the cancellous bone CT values between these areas. The cancellous bone CT values at the affected and unaffected areas in the BP-treated group were significantly higher than in the control groups. In patients with stage 0 MRONJ, the cancellous bone CT values at the affected area were also significantly higher than in the healthy patients. The cortical bone widths in the unaffected areas in the BP-treated patients were significantly larger than in healthy patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cancellous bone CT values were higher in the BP-treated group, including in patients with stage 0 MRONJ, and CT may provide useful quantitative information.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: Yoshiko@dpc.agu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ariji
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Michihito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Munetaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naitoh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ariji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059266:Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates