Epstein-Barr virus and malignant lymphoepithelial lesions of the salivary gland.

Abstract

This report describes the results of histopathologic and virologic studies in six patients with undifferentiated carcinoma (malignant lymphoepithelial lesions) of the salivary glands. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected in tumors from all six patients by DNA hybridization, while adjacent non-tumorous salivary gland tissue was negative for EBV in two patients tested for DNA and in three patients tested for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA). These findings add more evidence that these unusual salivary gland tumors are EBV-associated, and that EBV is specific to the tumor.