Detection of Epstein–Barr virus only in lymphoepithelial carcinomas among primary carcinomas of the lung

Abstract

DiscussionNuclear and architectural changes in endometrial glands in pregnancy were recorded by Arias-Stella in 19 542. Epithelial changes of the Arias-Stella phenomenon have also been well recorded at extrauterine sites including the endocervix" Until a recent report, the Arias-Stella phenomenon had been thought to be characterized by either no mitotic activity or only sparse normally formed mitoses'.In their recent paper Arias-Stella et a1.l have shown that mitotic activity and even abnormal mitotic figures can, on occasion, be seen within endometrial glands in the presence of chorionic tissue. They discuss the potential interference of placental hormones in early pregnancy upon DNA synthesis, and offer the occurrence of abnormal mitotic figures as morphological proof of interference in the normal cell cycle during mitosis. They point out that the differential diagnosis between clear cell endometrial adenocarcinoma and Arias-Stella phenomenon cannot, therefore, be based solely on mitotic activity. . We have documented the previously unrecorded occurrence of similar aberrant mitotic activity with an endocervical polyp. This finding complicated what was otherwise a straightforward diagnosis of the Arias-Stella phenomenon; and indicated that adenocarcinoma should at least be considered as an alternative. The morphology of the glands was, however, against this latter possibility and an Arias-Stella reaction was diagnosed. Fourteen months after this biopsy the patient is welI, and three good quality cervical cytological preparations are normal. We therefore suggest that tripolar mitotic figures within the Arias-Stella phenomenon can be seen in tissues other than endometrium and should be accepted as part and parcel of the transformation, unless there are other unusual aspects. AcknowledgementsWe wish to thank Professor H.Fox of the University of Manchester for his valuable help and comments, after reviewing sections from this case. References 1. Arias-Stella J, Arias-Velasquez A, Arias-Stella J. Normal and abnormal mitoses in the atypical endometrial change associated with chorionic tissue effect.

Epstein‐Barr virus involvement is mainly restricted to lymphoepithelial type of gastric carcinoma among various epithelial neoplasms

“…Kasai et al [1994] reported that ®ve cases (6.2%) of 81 lung cancers in northern Japan were associated with EBV and indicated that the morphological features of EBV-associated lung cancers were not restricted to the lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. However, Chan et al [1995] detected EBV in seven lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas, but not in 59 lung carcinomas in Chinese patients with other histological types. In the south part of Kyushu, Japan, none of the 75 lung carcinomas, including two lymphoepitheliomalike tumors, were positive for EBV.…”

“…Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung was associated often with EBV in Asians but not in Caucasians [Butler et al, 1989;Gal et al, 1991;Pittalug et al, 1993;Higashiyama et al, 1995;Chan et al, 1995 ]. Kasai et al [1994] reported that ®ve cases (6.2%) of 81 lung cancers in northern Japan were associated with EBV and indicated that the morphological features of EBV-associated lung cancers were not restricted to the lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma.…”

“…EBV has also been detected in several carcinomas arising in internal organs including the salivary glands, middle ear, sinonasal tract, thymus, esophagus, lung, stomach, breast, biliary tract, and uterine cervix [Leyvraz et al, 1985;Butler et al, 1989;HamiltonDutoit et al, 1991;Shibata et al, 1991;Mori et al, 1994;Chan et al, 1994Chan et al, , 1995Higashiyama et al, 1995;Labrecque et al, 1995;Hsu et al, 1996;Tseng et al, 1997;Leung et al, 1998]. Although most of the carcinomas associated with EBV were lymphoepitheliomalike tumors, the existence of EBV genome was proven in ordinary carcinomas; that is, the morphological features of EBV-associated carcinomas are not strictly restricted to the lymphoepithelioma-like tumors [Tokunaga et al, 1993;Kasai et al, 1994;Jenkins et al, 1996;Sugawara et al, 1999;Sasagawa et al, 2000].…”

“…However, the association of EBV with carcinomas originating in various organs still remains controversial. Even in the lymphoepitheliomalike carcinomas of the lung, EBV association has been reported to depend on ethnic and/or regional background, occurring in Asians but not in Caucasians [Chan et al, 1995].…”

Detection of the Epstein-Barr virus in primary adenocarcinoma of the lung with Signet-Ring cells

“…Several other studies performed on a higher number of adenocarcinomas showed no evidence of EBV either in Asian or Caucasian patients [5,6,7,28]. However, EBV has been shown to infect and replicate in some epithelial cells and to be present in broncho-alveolar lavage, suggesting that the lung may be a reservoir of EBV [20,25].…”