A Case Report of Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma on the Temple

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS) is a rare cutaneous tumor of low grade malignancy and microscopically resembles lymphoepitheliomatous malignancies in the nasopharynx, palatine tonsils, salivary glands and uterine cervix. LELCS presents as scarlet-colored firm nodules or plaques on the face, scalp, or shoulder of middle-aged to elderly individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 72 year-old female had complained a papule like lesion with intermittent pruritis on the left temple for 2 years. But the lesion was changed to scarlet-colored firm nodule with ulceration. The mass was diagnosed as LELCS on the biopsy. And to confirm that the mass is not metastatic lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma from other sites or direct tumor extension from the nasopharynx, selective radiographic and laboratory tests were done carefully. RESULTS: Wide excision was performed with general endotracheal anesthesia. The tumor is composed of island of large epithelial cells surrounded by as dense infiltrate of lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen(EMA), the tumor cells were positive reaction for stain. And Epstein-Barr virus genome was not detected by in situ hybridization. So, the tumor was confirmed as LELCS. CONCLUSION: LELCS was described by Swanson at 1988, but has not been reported in the field of plastic surgery of Korea. We report a case of primary LELCS that occurred in the left temple with clinical characteristics, histologic features and references.