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Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with rapid progression

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Abstract

Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare entity, commonly associated in East Asia with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A 71-year-old woman underwent partial resection of the left lower lobe for a 17-mm nodule and was subsequently diagnosed with pulmonary LELC. Six months postoperatively, chest computed tomography (CT) showed lymphadenopathy in the left hilum and a 16-mm nodule in the S6 segment of the left lower lobe that had been difficult to point out (3 mm in size) at the initial surgery. She underwent a second surgical resection because of rapid progression—a clinical course at variance with the generally good prognosis for pulmonary LELC. At admission, the EBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) blood level was 40 copies/μg. The EBV DNA was undetectable after the second surgery.

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Author notes

  1. Satona Tanaka

    Present address: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, 5-7-1 Kojidai, Nishi-ku, Kobe, 651-2273, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoinkawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Satona Tanaka, Fengshi Chen & Hiroshi Date

Authors
  1. Satona Tanaka
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  2. Fengshi Chen
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  3. Hiroshi Date
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Correspondence to Satona Tanaka.

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Tanaka, S., Chen, F. & Date, H. Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with rapid progression. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 60, 164–167 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-011-0789-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-011-0789-x

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