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MRONJ Definition — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateOral MedicineMRONJ DefinitionMFDS Part 1

A patient has exposed bone, or bone that can be probed through an intraoral or extraoral fistula, in the maxillofacial region. Which additional combination of findings completes the SDCEP definition of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)?

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Correct answer: C — Persistence for more than 8 weeks; a history of antiresorptive or antiangiogenic treatment; and no history of jaw radiotherapy or obvious metastatic disease of the jaws

Option C gives the complete SDCEP definition. MRONJ requires exposed bone, or bone probeable through an intraoral or extraoral fistula, in the maxillofacial region for more than eight weeks, together with previous or current antiresorptive or antiangiogenic treatment. There must be no history of radiation therapy to the jaw and no obvious metastatic disease of the jaws. Option A uses the wrong duration, and absence of infection is not a defining requirement. Option D omits the necessary medication history; extraction may precede MRONJ but is not required. Previous jaw radiotherapy in option B instead raises osteoradionecrosis and excludes the MRONJ case definition. Option E uses no minimum duration and incorrectly makes bacterial osteomyelitis a defining criterion.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Oral Health Management of Patients at Risk of Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, section 2.1: What is MRONJ? Published 2017; reviewed and extant March 2024. https://companion.sdcep.org.uk/prevention-of-medication-related-osteonecrosis-of-the-jaw/introduction/what-is-mronj/