Evidence of human papilloma virus infection but lack of Epstein-Barr virusin lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of uterine cervix: Report of two casesand review of the literature

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of uterine cervix is an uncommon va riant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We report here 2 new cases in which DNA sequences from human papilloma virus (HPV) types 16 and 18 were detect ed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), To the best of our knowledge, HPV in fection has not been previously described in similar cases occuring in Euro pean women. Moreover, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is frequently associa ted with cervical LELC in Asian women, was absent in our 2 cases. These res ults suggest that HPVs but not EBV can play a role in the pathogenesis of L ELC occuring in women originating from Western countries. Copyright (C) 200 1 by W.B. Saunders Company.