[Bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis of the jaw--an increasing challenge in palliative care].

Bone metastases are one of the most common complications of cancer. Up to 70% of patients with advanced breast cancer metastasize to the bone. The standard long-term treatment of bone metastases is bisphosphonates. This effective therapy, however, is able to cause serious side effects. Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a recently detected adverse outcome associated in rare cases with bisphosphonate therapy.