title: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus-associated antigen in fine needle aspiration smears from cervical lymph nodes in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has consistently been shown to be associated with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and an EBV-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA) has been detected in the cells of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A study on the applicability of EBNA detection in fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears from cervical lymph nodes in the diagnosis of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma was performed. All 11 cases (100%) with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma showed EBNA-positive tumor cells, characterized by bright, granulated nuclear fluorescence. Three (50%) of six cases with other metastatic head and neck carcinomas also showed EBNA-positive tumor cells. These findings suggest that the presence of EBNA-positive tumor cells in FNA smears from cervical lymph nodes is not specific for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. On the other hand, a negative result in the presence of tumor cells may help to exclude it. A larger study is required to verify these preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000276:immunology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor