Primary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Lung: A Case Report

Abstract

Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare form of lung cancer. It often originates in the nasopharynx, stomach, salivary gland and thymus. Most of the time, its localisation in this area is associated with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Transthoracic needle biopsy findings, which were performed for a 68-year-old male patient with the complaints of cough and frequently recurring oral aphthae, and mass appearance on his chest radiography, were found to be consistent with non-small cell lung cancer. Nasopharyngeal biopsy carried out for frequently recurring aphthous lesions revealed EBV. The patient was exposed to right upper lobectomy and mediastinal dissection. Postoperative pathological findings were interpreted as evidence for LELC. We have presented our case with a literature review because lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is a rarely seen subtype of lung cancer.

Primary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Lung

“…[2] It occurs with an equal frequency in males and females. It affects the young population with no smoking history with a higher rate.…”

“…It is considerably difficult to make a diagnosis of LELC, because it is observed very rarely in small biopsy samples which represent a very small part of the tumor considering lung malignancies which demonstrate a heterogeneous structure. [2] In some case reports, it has been reported that a definite diagnosis of LELC is made by way of large excision or post-operative tissue-based sampling in the presence of a lesion which is interpreted as undifferentiated non-small-cell carcinoma by needle biopsy. [11,12] Among various diagnostic methods, EBER positivity is the most specific and considerably highly sensitive method for differentiation of LELC from other lung malignancies.…”

“…It is a rare tumor with a prevalance ranging between 0.87% and 3.6% of the other malignancies of the lung and has been classified as a subgroup of large cell carcinoma. [1,2] LELC is usually observed in the nasopharyngeal region. It has also been described in organs originating from the foregut including oral cavity, salivary glands, lungs, stomach and thymus.…”