Acute Airway Obstruction: An Unusual Presentation of Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in a Renal Transplant Recipient

Exp Clin Transplant. 2024 Apr;22(4):307-310. doi: 10.6002/ect.2024.0061.

Abstract

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder is a life-threatening complication after solid-organ transplants. In adults, recipients of heart transplants have the highest risk, whereas renal transplant recipients have the lowest risk among all solid-organ transplants. The most common site for posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders are gastrointestinal tract followed by the graft itself. Airway involvement in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder is rarely encountered. We report a case of a 26-year-old renal allograft recipient who presented to the emergency room with airway obstruction necessitating an emergency tracheostomy. Imaging revealed a left tonsillar mass extending into the nasopharynx and retropharyngeal space causing complete oropharyngeal occlusion. Endoscopic biopsy from nasopharyngeal mass showed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and was Ebstein-Barr virus positive. Reduction in immunosuppression and treatment with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder-1 risk-stratified approach resulted in complete remission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Airway Obstruction* / diagnosis
  • Airway Obstruction* / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction* / virology
  • Biopsy
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / diagnosis
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / immunology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunosuppressive Agents* / adverse effects
  • Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / virology
  • Male
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / virology
  • Remission Induction
  • Tracheostomy / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome