Lymphoepithelioma-like hepatic carcinoma: A report of 3 cases and review of the literature

Abstract Background: Lymphoepithelioma-like hepatic carcinoma is a rare distinctive variant of liver cancer with unique epidemiological and pathological characteristics, characterized by dense lymphocyte infiltration. It can be divided into lymphoepithelioma-like hepatocellular carcinoma and lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Existing research shows that its prognosis is good. Up to now, only 101 cases have been reported. More rarely, combined lymphoepithelioma-like hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma has been found. Case presentation: The first patient was a 62 years old Chinese man with hepatitis B virus infection presented with a single lesion in the liver. The patient underwent surgical treatment and was discharged on the 4th day. The patient was diagnosed as combined lymphoepithelioma-like hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma and has been alive for 15 months. The second patient was a 63 years old Chinese woman with right upper abdominal pain and hepatitis B virus infection. The imaging examination a single lesion in the liver. The patient underwent surgical treatment and was discharged one week later. The patient was diagnosed as lymphoepithelioma-like hepatocellular carcinoma and was considered to be the recurrence of lymph nodes about 2 years after operation. The patient underwent local radiotherapy and has been alive for 60 months. The third patient was a 50 years old Chinese man with hepatitis B virus infection presented with a single lesion in the liver and two enlarged lymph nodes. The patient received liver puncture before operation to indicate lymph node metastasis and had local recurrence after liver resection. The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient was diagnosed as lymphoepithelioma-like hepatocellular carcinoma. Finally, the patient died at 24 months follow-up. Conclusions: This article reports 3 cases of LELC and reviews the current research discovery, which suggests that even the locally advanced patients of LELC with postoperative recurrence and preoperative lymph node metastasis should be actively treated and intervened for a longer survival period. Keywords: Liver Cancer, Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma