Journal of Clinical Images and Case Reports

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Case Report, J Clin Image Case Rep Vol: 1 Issue: 1

Hidden Hypopharyngeal Primary of HPV Associated Lymphoepithelial-Like Carcinoma Presenting with Lymph Node Metastasis

Olivier T Giger1 and Patrick Dubach2*

1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s NHS Trust Hospital Cambridge, Switzerland

2Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, Burgerspital Solothurn Schöngrünstrasse, Switzerland

*Corresponding Author : Patrick Dubach, MD
Head of Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Burgerspital Solothurn, Schöngrünstrasse 42, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland
Tel: 0041326273546
Fax: 0041326273444
E-mail: Patrick.dubach@spital.so.ch

Received: June 29, 2017 Accepted: July 10, 2017 Published: July 17, 2017

Citation: Giger OT, Dubach P (2017) Hidden Hypopharyngeal Primary of HPV Associated Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma Presenting with Lymph Node Metastasis. J Clin Image Case Rep 1:1.

Abstract

Background: Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the pharynx is a recently described sub-entity of HPV-associated pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This histological entity might become an important differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis to its well known EBV-associated epipharyngeal counterpart.

Methods and results: We report on a patient presenting with a cervical cystic mass. Clinical findings and fine needle aspiration cytology was compatible with a second branchial arch cyst. Consecutive excision showed a lymph node with poorly differentiated lymphoepithelial-like squamous cell carcinoma, suggestive for a metastasis of an oropharyngeal primary. The patient underwent pandendoscopy with suspected primary in the epi- or oropharynx as suggested by the molecular characteristics of the tumor. The primary tumor was finally identified as a HPV 16 associated lymphoepitheliallike carcinoma in the tongue base and vallecula.

Conclusion: The final diagnosis of a HPV16-associated lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma has recently gained interest in the literature and the presented manifestation in the vallecula is an important differential diagnosis to EBV-associated epipharyngeal lymphoepithelial carcinoma.

Keywords: Hypopharynx; Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma; HPV16; Ultrasound; EBV

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Introduction

A 59 years old, healthy patient was referred by his family doctor because of a short history of painless neck mass. His personal history was unremarkable except for tonsillectomia at the age of nine. He was neither a smoker nor did he consume regularly alcohol. In the ultrasonography, a well demarcated cervical cyst (3.8 × 2.4 × 1.2 cm) compatible with second branchial arch cyst has been described (Figure 1).

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Figure 1: Ultrasonography before fine needle aspiration cytology. Well demarcated, thinned walled cyst 3.8 × 2.4 × 1.2 cm in diameter in level II of the left neck.

Following inconclusive fine needle aspiration cytology, a diagnostic resection was performed by the practicing ENT specialist. The histological sections showed a cystic lymph node metastasis. At low power magnification (25x; figure left) the cyst wall lining seemed normal, but in a higher magnification (200x) a layer consisting of poorly differentiated cells with a dense lymphocytic infiltrate became obvious compatible with a lymphoepithelial carcinoma with a so called “Schmincke” growth pattern (Figure 2). An extracapsular extension was not obvious. The infiltrating cells demonstrated immunohistochemically a squamous cell differentiation (p63 and CK 5/6 positivity). Furthermore the cells showed a strong reactivity for the cyclin dependent kinase p16. The EBER in-situ hybridization did not demonstrate Epstein-Barr virus gene integration in the tumor cells. In the subsequently performed HPV specific PCR, HPV16 DNA was detected and the tumor herein classified as a metastasis of a lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma [1] suggestive for a metastasis of an oropharyngeal primary (Figure 2).

clinical-images-case-reports-Photomicrograph

Figure 2: Photomicrograph of the cystically dilated lymphnode wall. At low magnification the metastasis is barely visible (left picture), whereas it becomes apparent in high power magnification (middle picture) and in an immunohistochemistry for p16.

MR scan documented post-operative alterations in left sided level 2 after lymph node resection and normally configurated lymphoid tissue of the Waldeyer ring; however, with slight submucosal irregularities on the lingual surface of vallecula (Figures 3 and 4).

clinical-images-case-reports-Sagital-view

Figure 3: Sagital view of T1 MR showing normal configurated epipharynx and irregular configuration of submucosal tissue in the vallecula (arrow) where biopsy proved HPV positive lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma.

clinical-images-case-reports-left-image

Figure 4: Biopsy specimen of the vallecula: left image depicts overview (25x). The surface squamous cell layer does not show dysplasia, whereas in the subepitheal layer a poorly differentiated lymphoepithelilal-like neoplasm becomes apparent.

The panendoscopy, preceding directly modified radical neck dissection revealed a slightly irregular tongue base with an inconspicuous mucosal surface in the vallecula. Systematic sampling biopsies of the epipharynx, the tonsillar fossa, and the vallecula and tongue base resulted in the identification of a lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma in the left sided vallecula, staged after final histological analysis of the neck dissection as cT2 pN2b cM0; HPV associated lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the hypopharynx.’

Discussion

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head- and neck region (HNSCC) can manifest in about 13% of patients with a neck mass as the first and only clinical manifestation [2].

The non-keratizing squamous cell carcinomas of the pharynx have amply been described as undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma and lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma [1]. The latter is HPV-infection related and EBV negative has only recently described by Singh et al. in a cohort of 22 patients [1]. This stands in contrast to lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx which typically is associated to EBV integration [3]. Lymphoepithelioma can histologically be subdivided according to their phenotype into Regard-and Schmincke Type according to the describers [4,5]. The latter may be difficult to identify on routine H&E stained tissue slides due to the dens lymphocytic infiltrate, as in the here presented case.

Covered by inconspicuous mucosa such tumors are often difficult to identify by the endoscopist at gross examination and they are often only detected upon random biopsies in the oropharynx [2,6]. In our case, the cystic degeneration of the lymph node could have been indicative for a metastasis of an oropharyngeal carcinoma as previously described as a typical feature of such tumors [7]. Detection of EBV in neck metastasis has been described by Macdonald and colleagues as a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma 8. Recently, the role of HPV in pharyngeal carcinogenesis has become a major issue of research and HPV associated HNSCC with histologic appearance resembling EBVrelated lymphoepithelial carcinoma has only recently been described in tumors of the oropharyngeal region [1,9].

It has been shown in fine needle-aspiration study by Begum and colleagues that metastatic HNSCC are often HPV associated if the primary tumor was located in the oropharynx, whereas a HPV was only detected in a single case of a HNSCC of a different location [10]. They furthermore found a significant correlation of p16 expression in lymph node metastasis of SCC of the oropharynx. As such, HPV16 detection in neck metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma gain important role as a further biomarker in the work up of HNSCC.

Conclusion

We describe a unique case of a HPV16 associated lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the vallecula to illustrate the potential value of early molecular testing in the histologic work up in SCCHN diagnosed in a metastatic setting. Head and Neck lymph node metastases by squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary demonstrating a lymphoepithelial growth pattern need further evaluation with p16 immunohistochemistry or molecular pathology based investigations such as EBER or HPV analysis. Early molecular tissue examination processing may assist the clinician to discover the primary tumor and may be decisive in the future for oncological HNSCC management. This is an important finding since HNSCC, especially if sub classified as lymphoepithelioma or lymphoepithelial-like squamous cell carcinoma are often difficult to detect on endoscopy for the clinician due a lack of surface epithelial involvement.

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