Viral particles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx was identified in a 17-year-old Chinese male. The Epstein-Barr virus titer was 1:3200. Tissue from the tumor mass was prepared for electron microscopy. Particles consistent with the morphological characteristics of herpes virus were found within the cytoplasm of malignant epithelial cells. This finding is discussed in relation to other data suggesting an oncogenic role of herpes virus in human malignancy.