title: Enlarged lymph nodes in the upper abdomen after liver transplantation: imaging features and clinical significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to review our single-centre experience regarding imaging features and pathological conditions arising from enlarged lymph nodes following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLD) and identify imaging features that may allow narrowing the differential diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1997 and September 2008, 715 OLTs were performed at our Institution in 585 patients. In 19 patients (2.6 %) ultrasound (US) showed enlarged lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological results showed posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in six patients (31.5 %), hepatic tumoral disease in six (31.5 %), disseminated systemic tuberculosis in one (5.2%) and sarcoidosis in one (5.2%). Histological results showed nonspecific reactive lymph node hyperplasia in five patients (26%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detecting enlarged lymph nodes in the upper abdomen after liver transplantation is and infrequent occurrence; however, thorough imaging is required to detect and characterise a wide variety of disorders. Most of the time, enlarged lymph nodes will be related to posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder or tumoral recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain. carlosvalls@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valls
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fabregat
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography