Zolidronate Induced Osteonecrosis of Jaw

A 70 year old patient diagnosed as multiple Myeloma (IgG type, stage-IIIA) was started on chemotherapy and bisphosphonates (Zoledronic acid 4 mg I/V over 15 minutes monthly). Till October 2009 patient had received 15 doses of zoledronic acid when he started with swelling of right side of mandible. Patient presented to dentist who started him on antibiotics. Clinical possibility of osteonecrosis of jaw (ONJ) was substantiated when an ortho-panatomograph (OPG) revealed osteolytic lesion at the site of clinical inflammation. (J Med Sci 2009; 12 (1):27)