Lymphoepithelioma‑Like Cholangiocarcinoma with Hepatitis C Virus Infection Treated by Microwave Ablation: A Literature Review and Case Report

BACKGROUND: Lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (LELCC) is a rare type of intrahepatic tumor that is poorly understood. It is not associated with specific physical findings and is usually diagnosed incidentally, resulting in tumors that are often large-sized at diagnosis. At present, the main treatment approach is surgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report the case of a patient with LELCC treated with microwave ablation (MWA). Our patient was a Chinese man with chronic hepatitis C and a 51 mm-diameter intrahepatic tumor. Despite blood testing, gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and abdominal ultrasound, the tumor was not well diagnosed. However, the histopathological findings of ultrasound-guided percutaneous tumor biopsy led to a diagnosis of LELCC. The patient was treated with MWA, and no new lesions had occurred at 9 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first patient with LELCC treated using MWA. Our experience suggests that MWA is an effective new therapeutic method for this disease.