title: Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the parotid gland: a case report and a brief review of the western literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the parotid gland is a rare tumour with an increased incidence among Eskimos and Orientals. In these populations, it is usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus. In Western countries, salivary gland lymphoepithelial-like carcinomas are uncommon and only 14 cases have been described so far; among these, only five cases showed Epstein-Barr virus positivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 45-year-old woman was admitted to Siena Hospital for evaluation of a pre-existent (2 years) painless and tender submandibular mass, rapidly enlarging since two months. On physical examination, a 2.5-cm mass was found in the right parotid. It was firm, mobile and non-tender. Laboratory data were within reference range. Nuclear magnetic resonance detected a 2,5×1,5×1-cm well-circumscribed mass in the deep lobe of the right parotid. A total right paroditectomy with dissection of a satellite lymph node was performed. On the basis of morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular biology findings, a diagnosis of stage II (according to TNM7) Epstein Barr-virus positive, undifferentiated lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the parotid gland was made. Twenty months after surgery the patient was free of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies seem to be necessary to completely elucidate the oncogenic role of Epstein Barr-virus in these tumors, which have identical morphology but different prognosis and variable presence of the virus.
  The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1260381551000616.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mastrogiulio
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Bruno J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazzi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leoncini
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor