Primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma within an intralobular pulmonary sequestration.

A 31-yr-old Chinese female, a nonsmoker, presented with digital clubbing and coughing. Diagnostic evaluation revealed a pulmonary sequestration in the left lower lobe. During surgery a tumour was discovered, which turned out to be a lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. These tumours are mainly found in Asians, and are associated with the Epstein Barr virus and not with smoking. They are thought to have a better prognosis and to be more chemosensitive. The need for surgical treatment of pulmonary sequestration and the recognition of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma as a distinct clinicopathological entity is emphasized.