A rare case of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the lip.
Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is a rare category of malignant neoplasms that share morphologic features with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which can be regarded as the prototype Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive epithelial neoplasm. A similar association with EBV is emerging for LEC of the oral cavity, which appears to be strongly influenced by the ethnic origin of the patient. A rare case of primary LEC of the lower lip in a 73-year-old Caucasian man is described. The tumor showed a striking microscopic resemblance to undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma) with features of a syncytial growth pattern, large undifferentiated tumor cells with vesicular nuclei, prominent eosinophilic nucleoli, and a dense intratumoral lymphocytic infiltrate. There was, however, no evidence of EBV infection of the tumor cells by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction, suggesting that EBV probably does not play a role in the pathogenesis of LEC of the lip in Caucasian patients.
Mahomed
Farzana
F
Division of Oral Pathology, School of Oral Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. farzana.mahomed@nhls.ac.za
Grayson
Wayne
W
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000150:complications; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male
D004279:DNA, Viral