Role of nuclear medicine imaging in recognizing different causes of osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) among patients with cancer and metastatic bone disease being treated with bisphosphonates is as high as 10%, which dictates that an understanding of the risk factors, preventative measures, means of early diagnosis, and treatment is critical. Despite ONJ occurring in the clinical setting of intravenous bisphosphonates, there are other causes associated with higher risk of ONJ, such as multiple dental extractions. Overall, it is important for imaging health care professionals to recognize, describe, and understand ONJ to help minimize biopsies and allow proper treatment to begin as soon as possible.