Uncommon Sites of Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma in Head and Neck Region

Abstract

We present two cases of Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) which were found in uncommon sites, the first at the right parotid salivary gland and the second at the base of the tongue. Both patients presented with painless neck masses and were diagnosed with histologic analysis. There is an association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the first case, but none was found in the second case. The primary and metastatic LEC are indistinguishable through histological studies. Therefore, examination of nasopharynx and neck imaging is vital to differentiate primary and metastatic LEC in non-nasopharyngeal sites. A collaboration between surgeons and pathologists is essential for accurate diagnosis of LEC. Radiotherapy is the main choice of treatment for LEC, similar to the cases in the nasopharynx.