Lymphoepithelioma like Skin Cancer : an Exceedingly Rare Primary Skin Cancer

We would like to share our case of lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS) and further expand on this extremely rare primary skin cancer. In August 2013 a 79-year old man presented with a short history of an asymptomatic 9 mm pearlescent nodule on the left medial cheek. There was no history of trauma or an insect bite and clinically it resembled a basal cell carcinoma so no photographs were taken. A diagnostic superficial shave biopsy revealed a dermal nodule composed of islands of epithelial cells which show quite marked atypia and scattered mitoses (Figure 1a). Immunohistochemistry staining showed positive staining of the epithelial cells for cytokeratins and EMA and the overall appearances were suggestive of LELSC and so a wide local excision of 10 mm was arranged. Further histological examination revealed a completely excised tumour composed of aggregates of malignant undifferentiated cells surrounded by a dense reactive lymphoplasma cellular infiltrate (Figure 1b). Immunohistochemical analysis showed up positive for cytokeratins (KL1 and EMA) as regards to epithelial cells. The lymphocytic infiltrate was positive for LCA, CD3 and EBER (Epstein Barr virus encoded small RNA) negative with EBV antibody (Figure 2). Electron microscopy analysis revealed rounded and occasionally spindle-shaped poorly differentiated squamous epithelial cells, and a lymphoid stroma consisting mostly of normal appearing small lymphocytes. Collectively, these appearances were in keeping with a rare entity known as LELCS and re-excision of the area was arranged with no evidence of residual LELCS in the sections examined.


Lymphoepithelioma like Skin Cancer: an Exceedingly Rare Primary Skin Cancer
We would like to share our case of lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS) and further expand on this extremely rare primary skin cancer.In August 2013 a 79-year old man presented with a short history of an asymptomatic 9 mm pearlescent nodule on the left medial cheek.There was no history of trauma or an insect bite and clinically it resembled a basal cell carcinoma so no photographs were taken.A diagnostic superficial shave biopsy revealed a dermal nodule composed of islands of epithelial cells which show quite marked atypia and scattered mitoses (Figure 1a).Immunohistochemistry staining showed positive staining of the epithelial cells for cytokeratins and EMA and the overall appearances were suggestive of LELSC and so a wide local excision of 10 mm was arranged.Further histological examination revealed a completely excised tumour composed of aggregates of malignant undifferentiated cells surrounded by a dense reactive lymphoplasma cellular infiltrate (Figure 1b).Immunohistochemical analysis showed up positive for cytokeratins (KL1 and EMA) as regards to epithelial cells.The lymphocytic infiltrate was positive for LCA, CD3 and EBER (Epstein Barr virus encoded small RNA) negative with EBV antibody (Figure 2).Electron microscopy analysis revealed rounded and occasionally spindle-shaped poorly differentiated squamous epithelial cells, and a lymphoid stroma consisting mostly of normal appearing small lymphocytes.Collectively, these appearances were in keeping with a rare entity known as LELCS and re-excision of the area was arranged with no evidence of residual LELCS in the sections examined.
Our patient underwent three month follow up for skin surveillance and lymph node examination and in October 2014 a left sided neck lymph node was detected on clinical examination.Subsequent ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration revealed malignant cells consistent with metastatic LELCS and he underwent a left sided modified radical neck dissection and superficial parotidectomy with 4/42 nodes positive for disease.Flexible nasoendoscopy showed no abnormality and adjuvant radiotherapy is underway.
Primary LELCS is an exceptionally rare cutaneous malignancy of uncertain origin and was first described by Swanson et al. in 1988 as a primary neoplasm with microscopic similarity to undifferentiated carcinoma of the lymphoepithelioma [1].It usually presents as a skin colored solitary nodule or firm plaque with a predilection for the head and neck affecting both men and women equally between the ages of 39-96; there are less than one hundred cases reported in the literature so far [2].
It is histologically distinct from other primary skin tumours showing well defined lobules or nests of large epithelioid cells densely associated with a mixed T and B cell lymphocytic infiltrate.The epitheliod component has no connection with the epidermis and the cells have poorly defined eosinophilic cytoplasm with prominent nuclei and atypical mitotic figures.The main differential diagnoses include undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma or metastatic lymphoepithelioma from other sites, cutaneous lymphoma or an adnexal tumour.all reported cases, 78% patients were free of disease after treatment and 10% had local recurrence.Two patients developed lymph node metastases with a fatal outcome [2].

Clinical & Investigative Dermatology
There is an uncertainty regarding the aetiology and histogenesis of LELCS and a thorough clinical work up with imaging, ENT examination, and immunohistochemistry are recommended for the diagnosis and treatment.It is thought that EBV is responsible in most extra-cutaneous sites; however EBV has not been reported in the primary skin type except in one case [3].