Lymphoepithelial-like Carcinoma of the Colon

• Published in: Nippon Shokaki Geka Gakkai zasshi Vol. 44; no. 5; pp. 591 - 595
• Main Authors: Taniguchi, Ryuta, Nagata, Yasuhiro, Niino, Daisuke, Mihara, Yumi, Kobayashi, Shinichiro, Tokai, Hirotaka, Ito, Masahiro, Fujioka, Hikaru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery 2011
• Subjects: colon cancer; Epstein-Barr virus; Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma
• ISSN: 0386-9768; 1348-9372
• DOI: 10.5833/jjgs.44.591

An 88-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to melena. Colonoscopy revealed that the tumor was located at the hepatic flexure of the transverse colon and developed on the luminal side with a sharp demarcation. Histologically, the tumor consisted of packed tumor nests with scattered lymphocytes which invaded into the subserosal layer. The pathological diagnosis was lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma (LEC) with infiltration of CD3-positive lymphocytes into the tumor. Most LECs developed in the stomach, thymus, and salivary glands. There are, however, few reports about colonic LECs. Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been reported to be frequently associated with LECs, EBV infection was not detected in our patient. Clinical significance of lymphocyte invasion into the tumor and EBV infection is not yet clarified.