Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma of the Skin
David Cassarino, MD, PhD
Key Facts
Terminology
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS)
Poorly differentiated carcinoma, most likely variant of SCC, with prominent inflammatory infiltrate
Etiology/Pathogenesis
No relationship with EBV (unlike nasopharyngeal lymphoepitheliomas)
Clinical Issues
Extremely rare variant of SCC; less than 50 cases reported to date
Microscopic Pathology
Dense dermal infiltrate of predominantly lymphoid cells associated with scattered large epithelioid cells
Epithelioid cells may form nests or clusters, although they may be difficult to discern due to heavy lymphoid infiltrate
 LELCS is characterized by a prominent lymphohistiocytic infiltrate obscuring a background of large, undifferentiated epithelioid-appearing cells  . |
 High-magnification examination of a LELCS shows areas of squamous differentiation  and prominent keratinization  . |
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin (LELCS)
Definitions
Poorly differentiated carcinoma, most likely variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with prominent inflammatory infiltrate mimicking lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the nasopharynx
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
