Do various imaging modalities provide potential early detection and diagnosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw? A review

Pongsapak Wongratwanich*, Kiichi Shimabukuro, Masaru Konishi, Toshikazu Nagasaki, Masahiko Ohtsuka, Yoshikazu Suei, Takashi Nakamoto, Rinus G. Verdonschot, Tomohiko Kanesaki, Pipop Sutthiprapaporn, Naoya Kakimoto

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

textlessbrtextgreaterObjective: Patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) often visit their dentists at advanced stages and subsequently require treatments that greatly affect quality of life. Currently, no clear diagnostic criteria exist to assess MRONJ, and the definitive diagnosis solely relies on clinical bone exposure. This ambiguity leads to a diagnostic delay, complications, and unnecessary burden. This article aims to identify imaging modalitiestextquotesingle usage and findings of MRONJ to provide possible approaches for early detection.textlessbrtextgreatertextlessbrtextgreaterMethods: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library to review all diagnostic imaging modalities for MRONJ.textlessbrtextgreatertextlessbrtextgreaterResults: Panoramic radiography offers a fundamental understanding of the lesions. Imaging findings were comparable between non-exposed and exposed MRONJ, showing osteolysis, osteosclerosis, and thickened lamina dura. Mandibular cortex index Class II could be a potential early MRONJ indicator. While three-dimensional modalities, CT and CBCT, were able to show more features unique to MRONJ such as a solid type periosteal reaction, buccal predominance of cortical perforation, and bone-within-bone appearance. MRI signal intensities of vital bones are hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI and STIR when necrotic bone shows hypointensity on all T1WI, T2WI, and STIR. Functional imaging is the most sensitive method but is usually performed in metastasis detection rather than being a diagnostic tool for early MRONJ.textlessbrtextgreatertextlessbrtextgreaterConclusion: Currently, MRONJ-specific imaging features cannot be firmly established. However, the current data are valuable as it may lead to a more efficient diagnostic procedure along with a more suitable selection of imaging modalities.textlessbrtextgreater
Original languageEnglish
JournalDentomaxillofacial Radiology
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Do various imaging modalities provide potential early detection and diagnosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw? A review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this