CT features and pathologic characteristics of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and analyze the typical CT findings of salivary gland lymphoepithelial carcinoma.


METHODS
CT findings in 8 patients with lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) in salivary gland were studied retrospectively. Surgical resection was performed in all cases.


RESULTS
8 cases were subdivided to primary tumor and secondary tumor. In primary tumor group, 5 were localized in the parotid gland, 2 were found in the submandibular glands; 6 lesions had with homogeneous density, 1 was associated with cystic degeneration and 1 with calcification; the margins of lesions in 5 cases were poorly defined, while well-defined in 2. On enhanced CT: obvious enhancement was achieved in all of the 7 solitary lesions, among which 4 were homogenously enhanced while the other 3 had heterogeneous enhancement. In the 2 cases of nodules in deep lobe, retromandibular vein was affected; 7 patients had positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) test, with Ki-67 measurements ranged from 40% to 80%. 1 patient had LEC secondary to Benign Lymphoepithelial Lesion (BLEL), with involvement of bilateral parotid glands; the lesion was manifested as multiple differently-sized nodules, with partial cystic change, all of the nodules had clear margins, and obvious ring-shape enhancement was seen in the nodules with cystic change; the patient with secondary LEC had negative EBV test and a Ki-67 value of 20%.


CONCLUSIONS
In most cases, LEC was primary and occurred in the parotid glands. The probable diagnosis could be made based upon Dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT scan findings combined with positive expression of EBV.
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200233, China.
Guobin
G
Zhang
Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200233, China.
Juan
J
Tang
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200233, China.
Yuping
Y
Pan
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200233, China.
Qixin
Q
Zhuang
Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Shanghai 200233, China.
Chungen
C
Wu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
Lymphoepithial carcinoma; X-ray computed; salivary tumor; tomography