Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of rectum: Possible relation with EBV

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LEC) of the colon is very rare. Here we r eport a case of LEC originating in the rectum that was closely associated w ith Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The histologic and immunohistologic features, namely, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with lymphoid strom a, showed this tumor to be an LEC. The EBV genome was detected by PCR using DNA obtained from tumor tissue sections. Immunohistochemically, EBV-determ ined nuclear antigen 2 was detected in the tumor cells, and in situ hybridi zation using EBV-encoded small RNAs probe showed positive labeling in some tumor cells together with a few stromal lymphoid cells. There are some repo rts of LEC cases that originated in the colon; however, a relation with EBV was not demonstrated. We report here a case of LEC of the rectum demonstra ting a possible relation with EBV.