Life threatening bleeding from an osteonecrosis of the jaw: Are bisphosphonates safe in irradiated head and neck cancer patients?

Gulf J Oncolog. 2018 Sep;1(28):72-74.

Abstract

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a significant complication secondary to radiation therapy or drug therapy, most commonly bisphosphonates. Safety data regarding the administration of bisphosphonates in bone metastatic head and neck cancer patients with history of jaw irradiation are almost non-existent. In this paper, we report the case of a Head and Neck (HNC) patient, with history of radiation therapy to the mandible region, treated with intravenous bisphosphonates for bone metastases that resulted in gross, life threatening mouth hemorrhage secondary to advanced, locally invasive ONJ.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Diphosphonates / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Humans
  • Jaw Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Jaw Diseases / etiology
  • Jaw Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Osteonecrosis / drug therapy*
  • Osteonecrosis / etiology
  • Osteonecrosis / pathology
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Diphosphonates