Bone resection methods in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw in the mandible: An investigation of 206 patients undergoing surgical treatment

Background /purpose: The standard treatment for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is surgery. However, reports on the appropriate extent of bone resection are few. We aimed to examine the relationship between the extent of bone resection and postoperative outcomes in patients with mandibular MRONJ. Materials and methods: The clinical and imaging findings and treatment outcomes of 206 patients (258 surgeries) with mandibular MRONJ undergoing surgery were reviewed. Imaging findings were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) to sequestrum, osteolysis, periosteal reaction, and mixed-type osteosclerosis, and determine the extent of resection. In some cases, samples were taken from within the bone, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the presence of bacteria and fungi. Results: The three-year cumulative cure rate was 81.7%. Patients with malignant tumors showing no osteolysis and undergoing sequestrum removal or marginal mandibulectomy had significantly worse prognosis than those with osteoporosis showing osteolysis and undergoing segmental mandibulectomy. Furthermore, patients with residual osteolysis, periosteal reactions, and mixed-type osteosclerosis on CT were more likely to develop recurrence. Eleven patients showed no osteolysis on CT images. Patients with cancer administered with high-dose denosumab had significantly poorer prognosis. Bacteria and fungi were also detected in samples obtained from gap-type periosteal reaction and mixed-type osteosclerosis. Conclusion: Surgery for MRONJ requires resection of the infected bone. Aside from the osteolysis area, the gap-/irregular-type periosteal reaction and mixed-type osteosclerosis must also be included in the resection area. Methods for determining the extent of bone resection in MRONJ without osteolysis are a future challenge.