Involvement of the Maxillary Sinus in Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: Radiologic Aspects

BackgroundThe use of bisphosphonates is very common among patients with osteoporosis and multiple myeloma as well as those with bone metastases from various malignancies. The benefits of bisphosphonates are well recognized, but it became evident during the past decade that these medications portend the major adverse effect of osteonecrosis of the jaw, known as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the specific manifestations of bisphosphonate use on the maxillary sinus in patients with documented bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.MethodsA retrospective review of all the patients diagnosed between October 2003 to August 2014 as having bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in a large university-affiliated tertiary care medical center. The records of 173 patients diagnosed as having bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw during the study period were retrieved. The available head and neck computed tomographic images were analyzed for ...