[Lympho-epithelial carcinoma (malignant lympho-epithelial lesions) of the parotid gland. Description of a case with detection of EBV by in situ hybridization]

The authors describe a case of malignant lymphoepithelial lesion (MLEL), commonly referred to as lymphoepithelial carcinoma of parotid gland, that is a very rare tumour. There is a relatively high incidence in Eskimos of Alaska and Greenland, but some cases are described in natives of south China. The immunophenotypic profile and histopathological aspect of this neoplasm are discussed, and the differential diagnosis in regard to other primitive or metastatic tumours of parotid is also considered. In our case a diffuse positivity of epithelial neoplastic cells for EBV genome was found using in situ hybridization. The possible role of EBV in the ethiopathogenesis of this rare lesion is herein discussed.