Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the uterine cervix: absence of Epstein-Barr virus, but presence of a multiple human papillomavirus infection

BACKGROUND: Cervical lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is still controversial. EBV has been demonstrated in Asian women with cervical LELC. In Western women, human papillomavirus (HPV) might play a role in the etiology. CASE: We describe a 44-year-old Caucasian woman with a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the cervix without EBV, but in the presence of multiple HPV infection. CONCLUSION: Our case supports a possible different pathway of development of cervical LELC in Western women as compared to Asian women.