Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma: A Rare Parotid Gland Tumour

Kaviprathaa Atmalinggam, Vanitha Palanisamy, Jothi Shanmuganathan, Premalathawati Krishna

Abstract: Primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) is a rare type of undifferentiated carcinoma that accounts for less than 0.4% of all salivary gland malignancies with majority involving the parotid gland. The disease usually associated with Epstein - Barr virus and histopathologically it is indistinguishable from metastatic undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Therefore, meticulous examination of the nasopharynx should be done to rule out metastatic lymphadenopathy of the parotid nodes with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Once the metastatic disease is excluded, primary diagnosis of lymphoepithelial carcinoma can be made. Primary surgical excision with postoperative radiotherapy is the most widely accepted approach is managing the disease with better outcome. Hereby we present a case report of a 41 - year - old lady with primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland.

Keywords: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma, Salivary gland neoplasms, Parotid neoplasms, Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry, Treatment