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. 2019 Sep 18;59(3):453–454. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3718-19

Transabdominal Ultrasonographic Findings of Gastrointestinal Lymphoproliferative Disease

Masahiro Takahara 1, Sakiko Hiraoko 1, Hiroyuki Okada 1
PMCID: PMC7028410  PMID: 31534094

A 45-year-old man was hospitalized because of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. He had undergone renal transplantation with a kidney 20 years earlier due to IgA nephropathy, and immunosuppressive medicines had been prescribed. Transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) showed a three-quarter circumference mass with a very low echoic layer, and endoscopic findings showed an ulcerative lesion at the terminal ileum portion (Picture 1). Histology and immunohistochemistry staining revealed invasion of medium-to-large lymphoid cells that were positive for CD20; negative for CD3, CD5, EBER; and had a high Ki67 labeling index (Picture 2). The phenotype was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Based on the patient's history and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings (Picture 3), we diagnosed him with gastrointestinal post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). PTLD is a group of lymphoproliferative diseases caused by an immunosuppressive condition after organ transplant (1). A TUS finding of a mass with a very low echoic layer is characteristic of gastrointestinal lymphoproliferative disease (2).

Picture 1.

Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Picture 2.

Picture 3.

Picture 3.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).

References

  • 1. Kim MJ, Yun SH, Chun HK, et al. Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder localized in the colon after liver transplantation: report of a case. Surg Today 39: 1076-1079, 2009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. Hasaballah M, Abdel-Malek R, Zakaria Z, et al. Transabdominal ultrasonographic features in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 9: 1190-1197, 2018. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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