Abstract

Gastric lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare neoplasm of the stomach that features undifferentiated carcinoma mixed with lymphoid stroma, and it invariably has a good prognosis. Most gastric LELCs have been linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We experienced a case of a patient with gastric LELC. A 57 years old female patient was found to have shallow irregular ulcerative lesion on the gastric antrum. Although repetitive endoscopic biopsy didn't yield any cancer, early gastric cancer (EGC) was strongly suspected. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed for establishing the correct diagnosis and curatively resecting the lesion. The pathology revealed gastric LELC with vertical invasion to the submucosa. No remnant cancer and no lymph node metastasis were noted after surgery following ESD. Here, we are reporting on a case of gastric ELEC along with reviewing the relevant literature. We believe this is the first case of gastric ELEC that was successfully diagnosed and managed by ESD. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2010;40:256-260)

• Keywords: Gastric lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, Early gastric cancer, Endoscopic submucosal dissection