Hepatic involvement by lymphoproliferative disorders post liver transplantation: PTLD.Int. Survey

Hematologic malignancies of the liver: spectrum of disease

The incidence of hematologic malignancies and their extranodal manifestations is continuously increasing. Previously unsuspected hepatic involvement in hematologic malignancies such as Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, myeloid sarcoma (chloroma), multiple myeloma, Castleman disease, and lymphohistiocytosis may be seen by radiologists. Although the imaging features of more common hepatic diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases, and infection may overlap with those of hepatic hematologic malignancies, combining the imaging features with clinical manifestations and laboratory findings can facilitate correct diagnosis. Clinical features that suggest a hematologic neoplasm as the cause of liver lesions include a young patient (<40 years of age), no known history of cancer, abnormal bone marrow biopsy results, fever of unknown origin, and night sweats. Imaging features that suggest hematologic malignancy include hepatosplenomegaly or splenic lesions, vascular encasement by a tumor without occlusion or thrombosis, an infiltrating mass at the hepatic hilum with no biliary obstruction, and widespread adenopathy above and below the diaphragm. Familiarity with the imaging features of hepatic hematologic malignancies permits correct provisional diagnosis and may influence therapeutic management. For example, when biopsy is performed, core biopsy may be needed in addition to fine-needle aspiration so that the tissue architecture of the neoplasm can be discerned. The predominant treatment of hematologic malignancies is chemotherapy or radiation therapy rather than surgery. Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Hematologic malignancies of the pancreas

Hematologic malignancies are relatively uncommon neoplasms of abdominal soft tissue. This article discusses the clinical and imaging features of pancreatic lymphoma, pancreatic extraosseous multiple myeloma, granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and Castleman disease. The combination of imaging findings and the appropriate clinical presentation should allow the radiologist to raise a provisional diagnosis of hematologic malignancy.

CD20 antigen expression by lymphoma cells in lung allograft recipients is associated with higher remission rate and superior survival: a study on heart and lung transplant recipients

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are one of the fatal complications of transplantation, and there is scarcity of data on the relevance of antigen expression by tumor cells in PTLD. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the potential effects of CD20 antigen expression by PTLD lesions developing in heart/lung transplant recipients. A comprehensive search was performed for reports indicating CD20 antigen tests in PTLD lesions developing in heart and/or lung transplant recipients. For data accumulation, we developed a standard questionnaire and data of patients presented in different published reports were entered into it. Finally, data from 26 previously published reports from different centers around the world were included in the analysis. CD20-positive PTLD lesions are significantly more likely to be of the B cell type (P = 0.006). PTLD in patients with a CD20-positive test represented relevantly shorter time from transplantation to PTLD, although it did not reach a significance level (P = 0.08). At the last follow-up, 53% patients were dead. Survival analysis showed no prognosis difference regarding CD20 test. When data were reanalyzed separately for heart and lung transplant recipients, lung recipients developing PTLD with a CD20-positive test were significantly more likely to represent remission episodes (P = 0.03), and also represented a significantly better outcome than CD20-negative PTLD patients (P = 0.04). CD20-positive PTLD lesions in heart/lung recipients are more likely of the B cell type and develop PTLD lesions earlier than their CD20-negative counterparts. Lung recipients developing CD20-positive PTLD lesions represented higher remission rates and better outcome. Further studies with prospective follow-up of patients are needed for confirming our findings.

Update on donor-derived infections in liver transplantation

Advances in surgical techniques, immunosuppressive medications, and robust infectious disease prophylaxis have resulted in liver transplantation becoming the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage liver disease and unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Nonetheless, organ transplantation is not without risk. Unexpected donor-derived disease transmission is a newly recognized risk that complicates approximately 0.2% of all organ transplants. We review the epidemiology of donor-derived infectious diseases and methods of risk mitigation with a focus on liver transplantation.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in liver transplant recipients: a clinicopathological study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Complications after liver transplantation are major factors that determine the prognosis of patients. In this study, we aimed at investigating an important though less frequently occurring complication, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), in a single institution after liver transplantation.

METHODS

15 cases with a diagnosis of PTLD in post-liver transplant patients were retrieved from our archive and the clinicopathological features reviewed.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of PTLD was 2.3% (n=15/658), and the incidence was much higher in the paediatric than the adult age groups, being 11.1% (9/81) and 1% (6/577), respectively. The median time of presentation was 16 months after transplantation (occurrence time ranging from 2 to 87 months after transplantation). Lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract and graft liver were the commonest sites of involvement. 11 cases were classified as monomorphic PTLD according to WHO classification and the majority (n=10/11) of them were of B cell differentiation. 12 of the total 15 PTLD cases showed a positive result for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNAs with in situ hybridisation. Eight patients were alive at the time of review, and two of them suffered from recurrence of the PTLD. Among the seven patients who died, six succumbed within 1 year from the diagnosis of PTLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its relative rarity as a complication for liver transplantation, PTLD imposes significant effects on the morbidity, mortality and treatment implications in postliver transplant patients. The clinicopathological data would hopefully provide better insight into the surveillance and management for susceptible patients.

Early-Onset EBV-Positive Post-transplant Plasmablastic Lymphoma Arising in a Liver Allograft

We report a case of a 51-year-old man who received a cadaveric liver allograft for autoimmune and hepatopulmonary syndrome. The patient was admitted with symptoms of progressive vomiting and diarrhea 16 months after transplantation. Laboratory studies showed abnormal liver functions, and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 76-mm heterogeneous mass in the liver. Histological examination showed a malignant lymphoid neoplasm with plasmablastic features. Plasmablastic lymphoma (PL) is rare in the post-transplantation period. To the best of our knowledge, only 25 well-documented cases of posttransplant PL, including ours, have been described.