Association of Epstein–Barr Virus with Thymic Carcinoma

The Epstein–Barr virus is a ubiquitous B-cell lymphocytotropic virus that is known to cause infectious mononucleosis1 and lymphoproliferative disorders in immunodeficient patients2 and has been implicated in the genesis of Burkitt's lymphoma3 and primary intracerebral lymphoma.4 The association of Epstein–Barr virus with epithelial cells has been more puzzling, but recent studies have shown that the virus can penetrate and replicate in some epithelial cells.5 6 7 Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma is consistently associated with Epstein–Barr virus.8 Another undifferentiated tumor with histopathological characteristics similar to those of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the thymus. This subtype of thymic carcinomas has a . . .