Clinical silence of pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with subcutaneous metastasis: a case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dissemination of lung cancer to cutaneous sites usually results in a poor prognosis. Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PLELC) is a rare tumor, and no therapeutic strategy for it has yet been established. We present herein an extremely rare case of a long-term surviving patient with PLELC showing subcutaneous metastasis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed unexpectedly as having PLELC based on a nodule on her back. After surgical resection of the primary and metastatic lesions, she has remained alive with no recurrence for over 5 years without any additional therapy. CONCLUSION: Even in the case of PLELC with subcutaneous metastasis, surgical management may afford a prognosis of long-term survival.