Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Case reports and case series were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies providing acceptable documentation of use of bisphosphonates were eligible (not further defined; studies were not required to provide details of the bisphosphonate used). In the majority of included cases, patients received intravenous bisphosphonates (mainly pamidronate and zoledronic acid).
Participants included in the review
Studies of patients with osteonecrosis of the jaws were eligible for inclusion. Studies were not required to provide information on the gender of the patients. In the majority of included cases, patients had multiple myeloma or metastatic breast cancer; others had osteoporosis or Paget disease.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Osteonecrosis of the jaw was the outcome of interest. To be eligible for inclusion, the studies were required to provide acceptable documentation of the disease, although information on the site of the lesion was not required.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.