A case of breast cancer with extensive osteonecrosis of maxilla induced by a bisphosphonate

• Published in: Gan to kagaku ryoho Vol. 37; no. 4; p. 681
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Yoshihiro, Koga, Makoto, Yokomizo, Yuji, Inokuchi, Satoko, Koga, Chihiro, Kusukawa, Jingo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Bone Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Bone Neoplasms - drug therapy; Bone Neoplasms - secondary; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Diphosphonates - adverse effects; Diphosphonates - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Maxillary Diseases - chemically induced; Maxillary Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Maxillary Diseases - pathology; Maxillary Diseases - surgery; Osteonecrosis - chemically induced; Osteonecrosis - diagnostic imaging; Osteonecrosis - pathology; Osteonecrosis - surgery; Palliative Care; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0385-0684

Here, we report a case of extensive osteonecrosis of the maxilla associated with a history of bisphosphonate (BP) therapy for management of bone metastases from breast cancer. A 66-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a fistulation on the right side of the maxilla in May 2005 by her dentist. The patient had a medical history of breast cancer with bone metastasis that was treated by chemotherapy with 45 mg pamidronate in 2 weekly courses for 16 months. We suspected that this rare case of osteonecrosis was caused by chemotherapy with BPs. Palliative treatments, including antibiotic therapy and local irrigation, were administered. Finally, extensive osteonecrosis of the maxilla occurred.