Lymphoepithelioma in cervical lymph nodes of children and young adults

A neck mass was the initial manifestation of lymphoepithelioma in 33 patients 19 years of age or younger. All patients underwent diagnostic biopsy of a cervical lymph node with incorrect initial histologic diagnosis in 50% of the cases. In a study of these 33 cases, lymphoepithelioma metastatic in cervical lymph nodes presented two distinct histologic patterns which corresponded to the Regaud and Schmincke types within the nasopharynx. The Regaud type was easily recognized as metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and provided few diagnostic problems. The Schmincke type, however, was not well recognized and was confused with a variety of neoplasms, usually Hodgkin's disease or another type of malignant lymphoma. The histopathology of lymphoepithelioma metastatic in cervical lymph nodes is described and the differential diagnosis discussed.