Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (malignant lymphoepithelial lesion) of the salivary glands

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor of the salivary gland of exceptionally high incidence among Eskimo. Three of our patients (one Hispanic, one Filipino, and one American white) had this neoplasm in the parotid gland. Electron microscopic examination of one of these tumors confirmed the squamous epithelial origin of the lesion. These three new cases bring the total number of cases reported thus far to 29. Some clinical features and treatment are briefly reviewed.