We present a case of a solitary metastasis of an adenocarcinoma to a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following a disease free interval of 12 years after resection of a Duke's C carcinoma. The presentation of this unusually placed metastasis was associated with a 3-year complex pain syndrome and radiological appearances consistent with benign disease. The case highlights the importance of not dismissing unusual lesions as innocent in the presence of a history of malignant disease.