Journals / Meandros Medical And Dental Journal / 2026 / Volume: 27 Issue: 1

Analysis of Radiological Changes in Medication- Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) by Cone-beam Computed Tomography

İlaçla İlişkili Çene Osteonekrozunda (MRONJ) Radyolojik Değişikliklerin Konik Işınlı Bilgisayarlı Tomografi ile Analizi

Ezgi Uzun(Pamukkale Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi)0000-0003-3198-8325
Gözde Açıkgöz(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DİŞ HEKİMLİĞİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-0147-1798
Burak Kerem Apaydın(PAMUKKALE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DİŞ HEKİMLİĞİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-2621-4704
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Therefore, it was concluded that in the diagnosis and management of MRONJ, each patient should be evaluated individually, and the medical history and clinical findings should be considered as a whole.

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological findings in the jaw bones by examining the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and to contribute to the diagnosis and management of MRONJ.
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Key Findings & Data:Material & Methods: In this study, 50 CBCT imaging data of patients (34 female, 16 male, mean age=70,44±11,09) with MRONJ were evaluated retrospectively.
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Conclusion & Impact:Therefore, it was concluded that in the diagnosis and management of MRONJ, each patient should be evaluated individually, and the medical history and clinical findings should be considered as a whole.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Cone beam computed tomography · Jaw osteonecrosis · MRONJ

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological findings in the jaw bones by examining the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and to contribute to the diagnosis and management of MRONJ. Material & Methods: In this study, 50 CBCT imaging data of patients (34 female, 16 male, mean age=70,44±11,09) with MRONJ were evaluated retrospectively. Radiological findings on CBCT images were recorded as osteolysis, focal or generalized bone sclerosis, sequestra, unhealed extraction socket, periosteal reaction and pathological fracture. Descriptive analyses were used to evaluate the data. Results: 44% of the 50 patients had osteoporosis, 12% had multiple myeloma, and 44% had malignancies. The most significant changes were observed in the posterior mandible (57.4%), and the most common findings were osteolysis (73.8%) and sequestrum (50.8%). In some cases, less frequent findings such as non-healed extraction socket (14.8%), periosteal reaction (6.6%), and pathological fracture (3.3%) were observed. Additionally, no radiographic changes were observed in the CBCT images of 4 patients (6.6%). Conclusion: In our study, the CBCT images of the patients revealed the presence of various findings associated with MRONJ but did not present a specific radiological feature common to all patients. Therefore, it was concluded that in the diagnosis and management of MRONJ, each patient should be evaluated individually, and the medical history and clinical findings should be considered as a whole.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, ilaçla ilişkili çene osteonekroz (MRONJ) tanısı almış hastaların konik ışınlı bilgisayarlı tomografi (KIBT) görüntülerini inceleyerek çene kemiklerindeki radyolojik bulguları değerlendirmek ve MRONJ’nin tanı ve yönetiminde katkı sağlamaktır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, 50 MRONJ tanılı hastanın (34 kadın, 16 erkek, ortalama yaş= 70,44±11,09) KIBT görüntüleri retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. KIBT görüntülerinde radyolojik bulgular osteoliz, fokal veya generalize kemik sklerozu, sekestr, iyileşmemiş çekim soketi, periosteal reaksiyon ve patolojik fraktür olarak kaydedilmiştir. Verilerin değerlendirilmesi için tanımlayıcı analizler kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: 50 hastanın %44'ü osteoporoz, %12’si multiple miyelom ve %44'ü malign hastalıklara sahiptir. Bu hastalarda en fazla değişiklik mandibula posterior (%57,4) bölgesinde izlenmiş olup, en yaygın bulgular arasında osteoliz (%73,8) ve sekestr (%50,8) tespit edilmiştir. Bazı vakalarda daha az sıklıkla iyileşmemiş çekim soketi (%14,8), periosteal reaksiyon (%6,6) ve patolojik fraktür (%3,3) gibi bulgular gözlemlenmiştir. Sonuç: Çalışmamızda hastaların KIBT görüntüleri, MRONJ ile ilişkili çeşitli bulguların varlığını ortaya koymuş ve hastalar arasında spesifik bir radyolojik bulgu sunmadığını göstermiştir. Bu nedenle, MRONJ’nin tanı ve yönetiminde her hastanın bireysel olarak değerlendirilmesi gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Uzun, E., Açıkgöz, G., Apaydın, B. K. (2026). Analysis of Radiological Changes in Medication- Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) by Cone-beam Computed Tomography. Meandros Medical And Dental Journal, Volume: 27 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.69601/meandrosmdj.1689343

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