Eight-year follow-up of locally advanced lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma at upper urinary tract: A case report

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma is rarely seen. Although it is termed after lymphoepithelioma at the nasopharynx, it behaves more like high grade urothelial carcinoma by immunohistochemical features. Most published literatures focused on its rarity but few discussed results of long-term follow-ups. As no available guidelines are applicable, we postulated that principles should be similar to that of urothelial carcinoma at urinary tract. As of now, this work features the longest follow-up of this cancer at the upper urinary tract. CASE SUMMARY: A 63-year-old female had a chief complaint of intermittent left flank pain for 2 mo, along with accompanying symptoms including vomiting and body weight loss, about 7 kg over 2 mo. Laboratory data showed normocytic anemia, mildly poor renal function, and hyperparathyroidism. Urine analysis showed mild hematuria. Computed tomography showed a 4.2-cm-width irregular mass over left renal pelvic and enlarged lymph node at the left renal hilum. Whole-body bone scan was negative of active bone lesions. Biopsy from ureteroscopy showed urothelial carcinoma. Specimen from laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff resection showed lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with muscular invasion (pT3). She took adjuvant chemotherapies of 2 cycles and full courses of radiation therapy. No recurrence was observed with designed investigative programs. CONCLUSION: Locally advanced urinary tract lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma could benefit from nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision in terms of recurrence-free survival.