Primary lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the intraoral minor salivary gland: A case report

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of salivary gland origin is a rare malignant tumor with morphological characteristics identical to those of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It has a marked racial predilection for Inuit and Southeast Asian populations. An association between LEC and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has previously been reported. LEC most frequently affects the parotid gland, followed by the submandibular glands. To the best of our knowledge, only three LECs arising from the minor salivary gland have been previously described in the English language literature. The current study reports a case of EBV-associated LEC of the minor salivary gland in the hard palate of a 38-year-old Chinese female, and reviews the clinicopathological characteristics of this uncommon tumor.