Primary Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma Research Articles

Diagnostic accuracy and pitfalls in fine needle aspiration cytology of salivary glands: a study of 113 cases

To describe the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) features of various salivary gland lesions and to analyze the respective diagnostic value and pitfalls. 113 FNAC specimens of salivary gland lesions were reviewed and correlated with clinical and histopathologic findings. The FNAC diagnostic failure (2); non-neoplastic lesions (12); benign neoplasm (82) and malignant neoplasm (17). Cytologically, the distinction between cellular pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and basal cell adenoma could be difficult due to their overlapping morphologic features. The cytologic patterns of primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid were indistinguishable from those of metastatic nasopharyngeal undifferentiated carcinoma. The ultimate distinction relied on clinical correlation. The three inaccurately diagnosed cases of FNAC are, as follows: reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of lymph node mistaken as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma diagnosed as "scanty atypical cells present" and primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma mistaken as benign lymphoepithelial lesion. On the basis of FNAC, 97.4% (110 /113) were correctly depicted as benign (95/96; 99.0%) or malignant (15/17; 88.2%). Furthermore, 90.3% (102 /113) (specificity = 91.9%; 102/111) were accurately diagnosed, including 91.7% (88/96) benign lesions (specificity = 92.6% ; 88/95) and 82.4% (14/17) malignant tumors (specificity = 87.5%; 14/16). FNAC is reliable in distinguishing benign and malignant salivary gland lesions. A specific cytologic diagnosis is often possible. On the other hand, due to the pitfalls in cytologic diagnosis of certain salivary gland tumors, tissue biopsy for histologic examination may be necessary.

Primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the hypopharynx

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma) is a neoplasm that may be found in nasopharynx, nasal fossae, maxillary sinus, base of the tongue, tonsil, thymus and parapharyngeal area. Such a tumor is extremely rare in the hypopharynx and the case described is the second so far reported in the world literature, after the first case by Dockerty et al. (1968). The tumor is morphologically identical to those arising in other organs. Our patient died ten months after diagnosis.