Concurrent Epstein Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor and myeloid sarcoma of the liver and acute myeloid leukemia in a patient post kidney transplant: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Epstein Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMT) are rare neoplasms that can occur in immunocompromised individuals. The native or transplanted liver is the most commonly involved site in post transplant patients. Systemic therapies have been utilized in EBV-SMT with modest activity.

Case description: We describe a 23-year-old female kidney transplant recipient who presented with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and hepatic myeloid sarcoma (MS). Although it was not recognized initially, her liver biopsy revealing MS at diagnosis was posthumously found to have synchronous EBV-SMT. She underwent anthracycline based induction and achieved a complete remission of her AML by bone marrow biopsy. Due to a persistent hepatic mass, she was given salvage chemotherapy including fludarabine, etoposide, cytarabine, decitabine, and venetoclax for presumed refractory MS. Re-biopsy of the liver revealed the absence of MS and presence of EBV-SMT, which subsequently grew rapidly and precluded her from a liver tumor resection. The patient underwent sirolimus mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) therapy with palliative intent, but the patient's EBV-SMT progressed shortly after. At time of autopsy, the patient remained in complete remission from AML/MS, but was found to have multifocal progressive metastatic EBV-SMT.

Conclusions: To our knowledge this is the first reported case of synchronous AML/MS and post transplant hepatic EBV-SMT that underwent treatment for AML/MS. Our report suggests that the chemotherapeutic agents utilized for AML/MS may have poor efficacy against EBV-SMT.

Keywords: EBV; EBV smooth muscle tumor; Epstein Barr virus; Epstein Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMT); case report; post transplant smooth muscle tumor.