De-novo cholangiocarcinoma in the setting of recurrent primary sclerosing cholangitis following liver transplant

Am J Transplant. 2003 May;3(5):634-8. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-6143.2003.00110.x.

Abstract

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the only definitive therapeutic option in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and end-stage liver disease. However, PSC recurs in up to 20% of patients transplanted for this indication. To date, no patient has been reported to develop cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) post-transplant, without biliary tract cancer having been present pretransplant. Here, we report recurrent PSC complicated by de-novo CCA in a 31-year-old man transplanted for PSC 8 years earlier. Cholangiocarcinoma was confirmed using a combination of computed tomography, cholangiography, positron emission tomography and histological examination of biliary cytology. He has since been successfully re-transplanted following preoperative chemo-radiotherapy. No viable tumor was identified in the explanted liver. This case establishes that long-term complications associated with PSC and biliary-enteric surgery such as CCA may become apparent in new grafts post-transplant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / etiology
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / therapy
  • Bile Ducts / pathology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / etiology*
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / therapy
  • Cholangiography
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / pathology*
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed