A case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection

Abstract

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm with histopathologic similarities to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The association of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is well documented. EBV has also been reported to be associated with LELC in only four sites (the stomach, salivary glands, lung, and thymus), but not in the skin. We report herein a case of EBV-positive LELCS. An 82-year-old female presented with a red nodule on the right cheek. Histologically, the entire dermis was occupied by atypical tumor cell nests with dense lymphocytic infiltration. Neoplastic cells were strongly positive for cytokeratin 14 but were negative for cytokeratins 19 and 20. EBV genomes in neoplastic cells were detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis and in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA, suggesting an association with EBV.