Case Reports : A case of NK/T-cell lymphoma in a cardiac transplant recipient

Hye Won Park,

Korean J Med > Volume 70(2); 2006 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2006;70(2):335-340.

Case Reports : A case of NK/T-cell lymphoma in a cardiac transplant recipient

Hye Won Park

한림의대 한강성심병원 내과

증례 : 심장이식 후 발생한 NK/T Cell Lymphoma 1예

박혜원

Abstract

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represent a potentially life-threatening complication following organ transplantation. The majority of PTLD are of B cell origin and strongly associated with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). PTLD of T cell origin are uncommon and have a poor prognosis. We encountered a case of NK/T-cell lymphoma involving posterior hypopharynx and appendix in a cardiac transplant recipient. The patient was a 67 year old woman who underwent cardiac transplantation in 1995. She was admitted in December 2004 after complaining of a sore throat for 2 weeks. The posterior hypopharyngeal mass was detected by laryngoscopic exam. On the 10th hospital day, fever and abdominal pain developed. Ultrasonography revealed acute appendicitis and appendectomy was performed. Excisional biopsy of posterior hypopharyngeal mass and appendectomy specimen showed nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma, and it was assessed as PTLD. (Korean J Med 70:S335-S340, 2006) Key Words : Lymphoproliferative disorder, Malignancy, Heart transplantation, Ebstein-Barr virus