CD4-positive lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma: Report of unusual case

Luaay Aziz; Raya Saab; Toufic Eid; Mousa A Al-Abbadi

doi:10.4103/ajm.AJM_135_17

Avicenna Journal of Medicine, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Avicenna J Med 2018; 8(02): 58-62
DOI: 10.4103/ajm.AJM_135_17

CASE REPORT

CD4-positive lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma: Report of unusual case

Luaay Aziz

Department of Ent and Head and Neck Surgery, Healthpoint Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

,

Raya Saab

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

,

Toufic Eid

Department of Radiation Oncology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

,

Mousa A Al-Abbadi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

We are reporting an unusual case of lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma (LELC) in an 8-year-old female patient where the tumor cells showed unusual CD4 expression. The lesion was found in the left submandibular neck region, in the vicinity of the submandibular gland. The salivary gland was not infiltrated by the tumor, and the tumor exhibited a classic LELC with single and clusters of tumor cells surrounded by many hematolymphoid cells. The tumor cells revealed strong positivity for Epstein–Bar virus as confirmed by the EBER: Epstein-Barr Virus in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) method of staining. Interestingly, the tumor cells expressed membranous immunostaining for the T-helper lymphocyte antibody (CD4) in addition to pan-cytokeratin. A brief discussion about this unusual finding is offered. The patient was treated as a case of Epstein–Bar virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with excellent response.

Keywords

CD4 - Epstein–Bar virus - lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma - nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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References

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