Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of the Lung Initially Misdiagnosed as an Intrapulmonary Lymph Node in a Frozen Section: A Case Report

We report a case of lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the lung (LCL) in a 67-year-old male, which presented as a solitary lesion in the left upper lung, measuring 0.7 cm in diameter. LCL is a rare tumor characterized by a dense lymphocytic infiltrate, often complicating its diagnosis. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as having an intrapulmonary lymph node on the frozen section. However, further immunohistochemical (IHC) staining enabled the pathologist to correctly diagnose LCL. The patient underwent wedge resection and was diagnosed with early-stage I disease (T1N0Mx). There has been no recurrence of the disease one year postoperatively. Clinical, histopathologic, and IHC findings are described to underscore the need for heightened awareness to prevent the misdiagnosis of this condition.