Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast: not Epstein-Barr virus-, but human papilloma virus-positive

Hum Pathol. 2008 Feb;39(2):298-301. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2007.08.006.

Abstract

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast is a rare tumor, with fewer than 20 cases documented in the literature. None of the published cases was Epstein-Barr virus positive, and our case was also Epstein-Barr virus negative. However, in our case, human papilloma virus (HPV) types 18 and 33 DNA could be demonstrated within the tumor tissue. Many years previously, the patient underwent hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma in situ which showed the presence of HPV-33. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast where high-risk HPV infection may be suggested as an etiological factor in a patient with a previous history of cervical carcinoma in situ.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Breast Neoplasms / virology*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / surgery
  • Carcinoma / virology*
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Cell Nucleus / virology
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / surgery
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • DNA, Viral