Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Changes Mimicking Bone Metastasis in Patients Receiving Bisphosphonate Therapy

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are inorganic pyrophosphate agents that reduce bone turnover. These agents reduce bone pain and delay skeletal complications, such as fractures in patients with metastatic lytic lesions, malignant-related hypercalcemia, multiple myeloma, Paget’s disease of bone, and osteoporosis. Osteonecrosis, developing in the jaw bones specifically, has been described as a complication associated with the use of bisphosphonates. In this report, we presented osteonecrosis-like magnetic resonance imaging findings that can be confused with bone metastasis in two patients who underwent long-term bisphosphonate treatment and the value of bone scan and 18flor-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography in the differential diagnosis.