Metastatic paraganglioma presenting in the oral cavity as the initial manifestation

Paragangliomas are tumours arising from pheochromocytes. Malignant variants are rare. We report of a rare metastasis to mandible of a paraganglioma. This patient also had evidence of metastases to the skull, clavicle, scapula and neck. The diagnosis was based on the histopathology of the oral lesion and a neck node. The disease progressed rapidly and the patient died within a few months from initial presentation. We believe that this is only the third time the metastasis of a paraganglioma to the mandible has been reported.