Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin

Abstract

Primary cutaneous lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is a rare disease with low metastatic potential. Its morphologic and pathological features are similar to those of nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelial carcinoma. We report the case of a 60-year-old man with an infrapalpebral pearly papule, measuring 0.6 cm in diameter. The lesion was excised with a clinical hypothesis of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Histopathological analysis revealed a malignant neoplasm with syncytial arrangement of cells with vesicular nuclei, associated with dense lymphocytic infiltrate. Immunohistochemistry revealed cytokeratin-positive cells (AE1/AE3) and p63 protein, indicating epithelial histogenesis and squamous differentiation. A negative Epstein-Barr virus test result was achieved by immunohistochemistry. Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin is a differential diagnosis of lesions with prominent inflammatory infiltrates.

Primary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva Metastatic to Regional Lymph Nodes and Parotid Gland in a Mexican Patient

“…Accordingly, the Mexican patient of this report presented a negative latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) immunoreaction in neoplastic cells, ruling out the association with EBV infection. Negative tests to EBV have been reported in non-Asian population [ 5 ]; however, further cases are needed to establish a clear relationship between EBV and LELC in Latin American population.…”

“…Although it may resemble nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma, other locations of LELC can be the stomach, salivary gland, lung, thymus, skin, uterine cervix, tonsil, oral cavity, trachea, larynx, urinary bladder, and vagina [ 3 ]. Like other lymphoid cell malignancies, this neoplasm has been associated in some tissues with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in certain populations; nevertheless, this has only been reported in the Asian population for the orbit and ocular adnexa [ 3 – 5 ]. Treatment of this neoplasm may include surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy [ 4 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma

“…To our knowledge, however, only 500 cases of PLELC— the most common LELC subtype—have been reported over the past 30 years. PLELC can occur at multiple sites including the lung(s), liver, [ 4 ] breast, [ 5 ] digestive tract, [ 6 ] urinary tract, [ 7 ] skin, [ 8 ] thymus, [ 3 ] and uterus. [ 9 ] To date, it is widely accepted that the occurrence of PLELC is closely associated with EBV infection.…”

Thymic Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus: Experiences and Literature Review

“…Thymic LEC has the capacity to metastasize to other organs, including liver, lung, and bone, so that the prognosis is generally poor [ 5 , 6 ]. LEC has been reported in many other organs, including the oral, oropharyngeal, nasal, and paranasal sinus LECs [ 7 ], and LEC involving the lung, skin, cervix, gallbladder, bladder, mammary gland, gastric mucosa, breast, lungs, liver, skin, urinary bladder, and cervix has also been reported [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. EBV has been detected in some of these LECs, indicating that EBV may be involved in carcinogenesis, even in LELC of many organs [ 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…LEC has been reported in many other organs, including the oral, oropharyngeal, nasal, and paranasal sinus LECs [ 7 ], and LEC involving the lung, skin, cervix, gallbladder, bladder, mammary gland, gastric mucosa, breast, lungs, liver, skin, urinary bladder, and cervix has also been reported [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. EBV has been detected in some of these LECs, indicating that EBV may be involved in carcinogenesis, even in LELC of many organs [ 3 , 4 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Other researchers have argued that EBV may also be associated with the metastasis of TLEC to these organs [ 3 , 4 ].…”