Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the parotid gland in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis 

M.Y. Mok, W.H. Shek¹, R.W.S. Wong

Department of Medicine and ¹Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) related malignancy. It is not a common condition and is usually found in the head and neck region. We describe the development of LELC involving the parotid gland in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had been receiving long-term azathioprine. A brief review is also made on the clinical presentation and histological features of LELC and the association of RA with EBV related diseases. The latter may be attributed to an increase in risk of malignancy associated with RA or as a result of the long-term immunosuppressive used.

Key words
Azathioprine, lymphoepithelial lesion, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, salivary gland tumour.

Please address correspondence to: Dr. Mo Yin Mok, Rheumatology Fellow, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2002; 20: 848-850.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2002.