Ectopic meningioma of the mandible in a 20-year-old woman: a case report and literature review

Ectopic meningiomas are a very rare tumor entity. We present a case of a meningioma arising in the mandible of a young woman and initially supposed to be a radicular cyst. Histopathological and immunhistochemical evaluation showed typical cell characteristics of a meningioma. Only six cases of ectopic meningiomas in the mandible have been described in the literature until now, mainly in women at an advanced age and with surgical removal of all tumors. For the first time, no surgical excision has been performed in this case and follow-up control after 12 months showed no significant progression or increasing clinical complaints. Hence, surgical removal seems non-urgent. In conclusion, unclear lesions of the jaws, even if they seem to be clear following diagnostics, should be evaluated by incisional biopsy and histopathological evaluation.