A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.
Abstract
'prescribing of (oral) bisphosphonates over a period of about five years was associated with a doubling of the risk of oesophageal cancer.'
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Green J, Czanner G et al. Br Med JÂ 2010; 341: c4444
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can result in Barrett's oesophagus with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer (Barrett's tumour). Dentists are only too familiar with the relationship between GORD and tooth erosion. In addition, preventative dental care is a priority for those that have taken bisphosphonates in order to minimise the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw. This study looks for another link: that between cancer of the oesophagus and oral bisphosphonates. The risk of oesophageal cancer was significantly higher when patients had been prescribed ten or more prescriptions compared with one to nine prescriptions of oral bisphosphonates (relative risk 1.93 v 0.93).
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Oral bisphosphonates and risk of cancer of oesophagus, stomach, and colorectum: case-control analysis within a UK primary care cohort. Br Dent J 209, 451 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.1005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.1005
