Donor origin of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder localized to a liver allograft: demonstration by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

SETTING

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in solid organ transplantation are mostly of recipient origin. We report an unusual case of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder following liver transplantation with localized limited involvement of the solid organ allograft.

DESIGN

Tissues were obtained at the time of surgery and evaluated by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome X and Y centromeric probes.

PATIENT: A 53-year-old Hispanic man with hepatic failure due to hepatitis C virus who underwent orthotopic liver transplant from a female donor and developed posttransplant lymphoma in the transplanted liver.

INTERVENTION: Withdrawal of immunosuppression, resection of liver allograft, and second transplant.

RESULTS

This posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder was clearly shown to be derived from Epstein-Barr virus-infected donor lymphoid cells. This was demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization for X and Y chromosomes in paraffin sections in a sex-mismatched transplant. Despite aggressive histology (monoclonal B-cell immunoblastic lymphoma) and lack of response to withdrawal of immunosuppression, the posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder was successfully managed by repeat liver transplantation without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to prove donor derivation in a posttransplant lymphoma of the liver. Allograft-localized donor posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder may represent a unique category with more favorable prognosis requiring different clinical management from other cases.