Case Report
Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and a Sort Review
Ioannis Tilaveridis1*, Ioannis Chatzistefanou1, Dimitrios Mastagkas2, Lampros Zouloumis1 and
Pastelli Nikoletta3
1Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
2Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece
3Pathologist, Registrar, General Hospital G. Papanikolaou, Exohi, Greece
*Corresponding author: Ioannis Tilaveridis, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, General Hospital “G. Papanikolaou”, Exohi, Thessaloniki GR 57010, Agion Panton 4H Pefka Thessaloniki, PC 57 010, Greece
Published: 22 Dec, 2017
Cite this article as: Tilaveridis I, Chatzistefanou I,
Mastagkas D, Zouloumis L, Nikoletta
P. Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of the
Parotid Gland: A Case Report and a
Sort Review. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1840.
Abstract
Background: We report a case of a 76-year-old woman, presented with a primary lymphoepithelial
carcinoma of the parotid gland. Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is a rare variant of
undifferentiated carcinoma that accounts for less than 0.4% of all salivary gland malignancies.
There is strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. These tumors are histologically
indistinguishable from metastatic undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and meticulous
examination of the pharynx is necessary to exclude metastatic disease and establish diagnosis.
Primary surgical excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the most widely accepted therapeutic
approach; however, controversies still exist in the current literature regarding the proper
management.
Conclusion: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor and beyond the differential diagnosis
further studies and multiclinical trials seem necessary to effectively guide treatment decisions.
Keywords: Carcinoma; Epstein-Barr virus; Lymphoepithelial; Parotid Gland
Introduction
Parotid gland tumors represent approximately 3% of all head and neck neoplasms.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most often encountered neoplasm of the parotid gland with 40%
incidence [1].
LEC is an uncommon malignant neoplasm consisted of undiffentiated malignant epithelial
cells into lymphoid stroma cells. Schmincke and Regoudand Revenrench independently described
a nasopharyngeal neoplasm with the above mentioned histologic features [2-4]. Later in 1962
Hildermann used the term lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) to describe lesions with these
histologic characteristics [5]. Tumors with the same histologic features have been described at
various other sites such as tonsil, lung, breast, uterus and other organs [2].
LEC is a subtype of undifferentiated carcinoma with histologic features of nasopharyngeal
carcinoma and benign lymphoepithelial lesion. In our paper we describe a new case of LEC of the
parotid gland with clinical information on treatment and outcome [6].
Case Presentation
A 76-year-old woman, presented with a 12-month history of a relative firm, gradually enlarging
left-sided parotid mass. Her medical and social history was non-contributory. The patient denied
pain and the facial nerve was intact (House-Brackmann grade I). A contrast-enhanced magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ill-defined lesion in the superficial parotid lobe with no
signs of cervical lymphadenopathy. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy results indicated a poorly
differentiated neoplasm of epithelial origin. The patient received a superficial left parotidectomy
with facial nerve preservation (Figure 1A-1C). Histopathologic analysis revealed non-neoplastic
lymphocytic infiltration surrounding nests of undifferentiated cells of epithelial origin (Figure 2A,
2B), that stained positive for cytokeratin stain (CK 5/7) and Epstein-Barr encoded RNA (EBER);
features compatible with lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC). A meticulous endoscopic examination
of the nasopharynx and oropharynx was performed to rule out metastatic undifferentiated
nasopharyngeal carcinoma and confirm diagnosis of primary parotid gland LEC. Postoperatively,
the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy (5400 cGy) to the gland area, according to the institutional multidisciplinary head and neck tumor board recommendations.
During a 36-month follow-up period no evidence of recurrence did
reported.
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
Dissection of the superficial lobe of parotid gland. The division of
the main trunk of the facial nerve is obvious.
Figure 1C
Figure 1C
The surgical field after superficial lobe removal. The main trunks
of the facial nerve with its peripheral branches are recognized.
Figure 2A
Figure 2A
Hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections from the LEC showing
non-neoplastic lymphoid stroma surrounding islands of undifferentiated
tumor cells of epithelial origin.
Figure 2B
Discussion
Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a rare variant of anaplastic
carcinoma, that accounts for less than 0.4% of all salivary gland
malignancies and predominantly encounters in major salivary
glands (83.5% in the parotid and 15% in the submandibular gland)
[7]. There is marked predilection for Greenland Eskimos and Asians
(southeastern Chinese, and Japanese) and a strong association with
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection [8]. EBV genome is detected by
hybridization, in the majority of LEC cases, indicating its potential
role in tumorigenesis [9].
LEC of the parotid is usually presented as a painless, rapidly
increasing mass, with significant heterogeneous or homogeneous
enhancement in CT or MRI scans [10]. Facial nerve is rarely involved,
while more than 40% of patients present with cervical dissemination
[11]. Histopathologically, it is characterized by poorly differentiated
tumor cells of epithelioid origin separated by a mixture of B- and
T-lymphocytes (lymphoid stroma). Tumor cells are typically stained
positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. A "starrysky"
appearance associated with histiocytes may be demonstrated in
some cases [9].
Differential diagnosis includes metastatic undifferentiated
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphoma, lymphadenoma,
lymphoepithelial sialadenitis and large cell carcinoma [9,11]. As
LEC is hardly distinguishable from metastatic undifferentiated
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a meticulous endoscopic examination
of the nasopharynx and oropharynx seems necessary to exclude
metastatic disease and establish diagnosis [12].
Superficial or total (for deep lobe tumors) parotidectomy with
facial nerve preservation is the mainstay of therapeutic approach,
based on the literature review [11,12]. Postoperative adjuvant
radiotherapy is widely advocated to maximize oncologic control [11].
Neck dissection is generally reserved for neck positive cases [11].
Given its radiosensitive behavior, controversies still exist regarding
proper management with Dubey et al. [13] from MD Anderson
Cancer Center (Houston) considering primary radiotherapy as a
reliable alternative. Chemotherapy has failed to improve survival
and it is not routinely performed. Compared with the other types
of salivary undifferentiated carcinomas, LEC has a significant better
prognosis with the estimated 5-year overall survival to reach up to
90% [11].
Due to its rarity, lymphoepithelial carcinoma is not an adequatestudied
malignancy and further studies and multi-clinical trials seem
necessary to ascertain proper management and effectively guide
decision making.
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