A case of metastatic malignant hemangioendothelioma of the mandible

A case of mandibular metastasis from malignant hemangioendothelioma of the chest wall is reported.On October 5, 2000, a 65-year-old man, who had been admitted for malignant hemangioendothelioma of the chest wall, came to our department for bleeding after extraction of the lower left second molar. The bleeding was associated with granulation-like tissue in the extraction fossa. Panoramic radiography showed osteolytic lesions in the left body of the mandible and both heads of the mandible. Bleeding was stopped by vascular embolization of the left maxillary artery. Biopsy was performed, and histological examination revealed mandibular metastasis of a malignant hemangioendothelioma of the chest wall. The patient later underwent radiotherapy because of severe pain. Although the mandibular tumor grew, bleeding and pain were controlled, and his quality of life improved. He died of respiratory failure 1 month after our first medical examination.