Presence of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the middle ear.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with carcinoma of the ear.


METHODS
Five non-keratinising squamous cell carcinomas and two undifferentiated carcinomas of the ear were examined. In situ hybridisation was used to localised EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER). Immunohistochemical methods to detect LMP-1 and EBNA2 were performed in the EBER positive cases.


RESULTS
Two cases were EBER positive, including one non-keratinising and one undifferentiated carcinoma. Both showed identical morphology to those arising from the nasopharynx, with abundant lymphoid stroma. They were both negative for LMP-1 and EBNA2.


CONCLUSIONS
EBV associated carcinoma with the morphology of lymphoepithelioma can also arise from the middle ear.
Leung
S Y
SY
Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Yuen
S T
ST
Ho
C M
CM
Kwong
W K
WK
Chung
L P
LP
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed