Burkitt Lymphoma After Transplant: An Aggressive Lymphoproliferative Disease

Abstract

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (Burkitt lymphoma) may occur after liver transplant. A 3.5-year-old boy who was 17 months after liver transplant developed multiple millimeter-sized nodular lesions in the liver. Before transplant, the patient tested seronegative for Epstein-Barr virus; within 1 month after transplant, he tested seropositive for Epstein-Barr virus (1000 copies). Biopsy of the liver nodules showed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (Burkitt lymphoma). Tacrolimus was stopped, sirolimus was started, and the patient was treated with chemotherapy (etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids and intrathecal methotrexate). Remission was achieved, and follow-up at 76 months after transplant showed no recurrence of the posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. In conclusion, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (Burkitt lymphoma) may occur after liver transplant, and monitoring Epstein-Barr virus level may helpful after transplant because of the association between Epstein-Barr virus and Burkitt lymphoma.