title: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in metastatic lymph nodes of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a primary unknown carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is often associated with neck lymph node (LN) metastases, which in many cases is the only manifestation of this disease. The submucosal and infiltrative characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma make this type of cancer difficult to diagnose. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has also been reported to be strongly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 36 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (from 30 primary sites and from 6 metastasized LNs), 13 metastasized LNs of other head and neck cancers, and 12 primary unknown neck metastases using an in situ hybridization technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the nasopharyngeal carcinomas, in situ hybridization with an Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA identified the Epstein-Barr virus in 20 (67%) of the 30 primary sites and in 3 (50%) of the 6 metastasized LNs. Epstein-Barr virus was not detected in metastasized LNs of other head and neck cancers, but was detected in 1 of the primary unknown neck metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA probe is useful for the differential diagnosis of metastasized LNs when the primary site is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuge
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochiki
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nibu
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugasawa
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral