title: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in an adolescent masquerading as a complicated primary EBV infection.
abstract: This report describes an adolescent girl with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the setting of intensive immunosuppression for a cardiac transplant. She went on to develop progressive pain, weight loss and night sweats with necrosis of the tonsils over 8 weeks. The clinical impression was initially that of a complicated tonsillitis secondary to immune dysfunction. Biopsy 2 months after first presentation demonstrated diffuse B cell lymphoma consistent with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). We present this case to highlight the need for a high degree of clinical suspicion for PTLD in a population of patients who commonly experience primary exposure to EBV.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medicine, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Conrad Vincent
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corsten