MRONJ
Pronunciation: em-RON-jay
Also written as: MRONJ — Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw; a condition of exposed necrotic jawbone persisting for more than eight weeks in a patient taking antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents.
Full Definition
MRONJ stands for Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and encompasses cases previously described as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and antiresorptive osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ). The current term was adopted to reflect the broader range of causative agents, including bisphosphonates, denosumab, and antiangiogenic therapies such as bevacizumab. Diagnostic criteria require exposed or probeable bone, or bone that can be imaged, for more than eight weeks in a patient receiving one of these agents and with no history of radiation therapy to the jaws. Editors must note that MRONJ replaced BRONJ as the preferred nomenclature following the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) 2014 position paper; use of BRONJ should be flagged as potentially outdated unless in a historical context.
Usage
Usage note: BRONJ is now outdated; flag its use and suggest MRONJ unless the document is explicitly historical. Define the acronym on first use.
In Context
- "Patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates for metastatic bone disease must be counselled about the risk of MRONJ prior to any dental extraction." — Patient information leaflet
- "The AAOMS 2022 position paper provides updated staging criteria for MRONJ management." — Clinical guideline