title: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in liver transplant recipients: a clinicopathological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, , Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Regina Cheuk-lam
authors: RC
authors: Lo
authors: See-ching
authors: SC
authors: Chan
authors: Kwong-leung
authors: KL
authors: Chan
authors: Alan Kwok-shing
authors: AK
authors: Chiang
authors: Chung-mau
authors: CM
authors: Lo
authors: Irene Oi-lin
authors: IO
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology