Malignant paraganglioma presenting as a mandibular metastasis

Background Metastatic paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors. Bony metastases most commonly occur in the ribs, vertebrae, and pelvis. Few cases of mandibular metastases have been reported. Methods A 75-year-old female presented with a 6-month history of an enlarging mandibular mass. A biopsy was consistent with a paraganglioma. Results Staging workup with 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography demonstrated 2 hypermetabolic intra-abdominal lesions adjacent to the inferior vena cava. These were confirmed as paraganglioma by biopsy and presumed as the primary lesions. The patient underwent left segmental mandibulectomy and neck dissection with osteocutaneous fibula free tissue reconstruction. Conclusion A rare case of malignant paraganglioma presenting as a mandibular metastasis is described. Nuclear medicine studies for paraganglioma are reviewed.