Malignant lymphoepithelial lesion of the submandibular gland

A case of malignant lymphoepithelial lesion affecting the submandibular gland of a 48-year-old Japanese man is described. Histologically, a well-encapsulated tumorous mass replacing almost the whole gland was composed of lymphoid and epithelial elements, and the latter revealed severe anaplasia with frequent mitotic figures indicating malignant changes. There is no sign of recurrence up to now, 32 months after the operation. Ultrastructural studies on a formalin-fixed sampling from the gland demonstrated the squamous nature of the epithelial component. This is the first case of malignant lymphoepithelial lesion of the submandibular gland detected in Japan.