title: How useful is PET/CT imaging in the management of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease after liver transplantation?
abstract: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication after solid organ transplantation. Here, we report our first experience with the use of PET/CT (positron emission tomography combined with computed tomogram) for the management of patients with PTLD after liver transplantation. Four patients with histologically proven PTLD were analyzed. Conventional work-up included physical examination and head-to-pelvis CT. PET/CT was used in one patient for initial staging and in all patients for follow-up. PET/CT positive findings underwent biopsy. Information provided by PET/CT resulted in a change of medical management in three of the four patients. Conventional work-up missed residual disease after surgery in one and failed to detect a tumor relapse in another patient. However, one patient disclosed a false positive PET/CT finding in the lungs. In conclusion, PET/CT may be a useful tool for staging and therapy monitoring of PTLD after liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Hepato-Pancreato Biliary Center, Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Hany
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petrowsky
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mullhaupt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stenner
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*