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BMJ Case Reports 2009; doi:10.1136/bcr.04.2009.1758
  • Reminder of important clinical lesson

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in an adolescent masquerading as a complicated primary EBV infection

  1. Heather L Henry1,
  2. Conrad Vincent Fernandez2,
  3. Gerard Corsten3
  1. 1
    Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Medicine, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
  2. 2
    IWK Health Centre, Pediatrics, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8, Canada
  3. 3
    IWK Health Centre, ENT, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 6R8, Canada
  1. Conrad Vincent Fernandez, conrad.fernandez{at}iwk.nshealth.ca
  • Published 9 June 2009

Summary

This report describes an adolescent girl with primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in the setting of intensive immunosuppression for a cardiac transplant. She went on to develop progressive pain, weight loss and night sweats with necrosis of the tonsils over 8 weeks. The clinical impression was initially that of a complicated tonsillitis secondary to immune dysfunction. Biopsy 2 months after first presentation demonstrated diffuse B cell lymphoma consistent with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). We present this case to highlight the need for a high degree of clinical suspicion for PTLD in a population of patients who commonly experience primary exposure to EBV.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none.

  • Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication

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