Mental paraesthesia: an ominous symptom. Case reports.

The sudden onset of paraesthesia in the distribution of the mental nerve should be regarded as an ominous symptom. It is usually related to events such as fractures or dentoalveolar surgery, but in the absence of such history this finding should be regarded with suspicion. Four case studies are presented in which the patient presented with unexplained mental paraesthesia, which were later related to metastatic malignant disease. Careful medical history is required to alert the clinician to appropriate diagnostic procedures and ensure correct management.