Hepatocellular lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma:A report of 3 cases and review of literature

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. Methods Three cases of hepatocellular lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results The tumor cells were sporadic and polygonal with a central nucleus containing prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm of tumor cells was abundant, eosinophilic and sometimes granular. Massive lymphocytes infiltrated into tumor tissue, which were small and were closely associated with tumor cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed strong positive expression of CK8 and AFP in the tumor cells,but no expression for CK7, hepatocyte protein and EB virus. Mature T and B lymphocytes expressed CD45RO and CD20, respectively. Conclusions Hepatocellular lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is an uncommon malignant epithelial tumor, and its diagnosis mainly depends on histopathology and immunohistochemistry.