Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, abbreviated LELC, is a very rare, poorly differentiated, malignant epithelial tumour.

General

It is thought to be related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (AKA lymphoepithelioma).^[1]^[2]

Epidemiology:

Etiology:

Associated with EBV,^[1] in most anatomical sites (nasopharynx, stomach, lung, thymus, salivary gland); the skin and uterine cervix appear to be exceptions.^[4]
- The exception to the exception: there is a case report of EBV in LELC of the skin.^[5]

Notes:

The (macroscopic, microscopic, epidemiologic, prognostic) features of LELC are very similar to medullary carcinoma -- EBV status is one differentiator.^[4]

Features:

Clusters of cohesive squamoid cells with:
- Abundant dense cytoplasm.
- Central nuclei +/- small/indistinct nucleoli.
- Surrounded by a prominent lymphoid component - key feature.

DDx:

Images:

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Mayer, EK.; Beckley, I.; Winkler, MH. (Mar 2007). "Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the urinary bladder--diagnostic and clinical implications.". Nat Clin Pract Urol 4 (3): 167-71. doi:10.1038/ncpuro0725. PMID 17347662.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 URL: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/148/case_presentations/lymphoepithelioma/arsenovic.html. Accessed on: 11 May 2011.
↑ URL: http://www.pathconsultddx.com/pathCon/diagnosis?pii=S1559-8675%2806%2970335-7. Accessed on: 11 May 2011.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Lespagnard, L.; Cochaux, P.; Larsimont, D.; Degeyter, M.; Velu, T.; Heimann, R. (Apr 1995). "Absence of Epstein-Barr virus in medullary carcinoma of the breast as demonstrated by immunophenotyping, in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction.". Am J Clin Pathol 103 (4): 449-52. PMID 7726142.
↑ Aoki, R.; Mitsui, H.; Harada, K.; Kawamura, T.; Shibagaki, N.; Tsukamoto, K.; Murata, S.; Shimada, S. (Apr 2010). "A case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.". J Am Acad Dermatol 62 (4): 681-4. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2008.07.024. PMID 20227583.