Lymphoepitheloal-like carcinoma of the submandibular gland

Abstract

Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma (LELC) of the salivary gland is uncommon, with about 80% of these occurring In the parotid gland. Its occurrence In the submandibular gland is very rare. It has a higher Incidence In Eskimos and Orientals. Apart from a report about a North-African woman with LELC of the submandibular gland, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there are no other African reports In the English literature. We therefore report the case of a 3-year painless right submandibular swelling in a female Nigerian diagnosed as LELC. The patient was managed by submandibular salivary gland surgical excision with adjuvant chemotherapy and is currently disease free.