Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a renal allograft associated with Epstein-Barr virus in the recipient: a case report and a review of lymphomas presenting in a transplanted kidney

Clin Transplant. 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):512-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2008.00804.x. Epub 2008 Mar 3.

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the case reports with lymphoproliferative disorders exclusively localized in the allograft transplanted kidney. We also report a rare case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma originated from the lymphocytes of the recipient with exclusive localization in the kidney allograft. We searched the medical literature for case reports of this condition. We found only 16 cases of lymphoma presenting in the kidney allograft without systemic affectation. The most frequent clinical manifestations were graft dysfunction and fever. In the majority of patients included in this review, the diagnosis was established from the tissue of explanted allograft. Seven patients were diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, and the relationship with Epstein-Barr virus could only be demonstrated in four patients. However, the outcome was satisfactory in all cases, except in one case in which death was not related with the lymphoma etiology. Health care providers should be aware of this clinical entity and heightened index of suspicion should be used so as not to delay diagnosis and not to lose the allograft.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / virology*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Transplantation, Homologous