Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2024;13(4):245-250. (DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2024.01032)

The value of contrast-enhance ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease: Four case reports

Lu XQ, Yu JT, Ruan LT, Numata K, Zhang D, Wang FQ

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a rare but life-threatening disease that occurs after organ transplantation. Histopathology is the gold standard for the diagnosis of PTLD. Because of its rarity and atypical symptoms, many patients are misdiagnosed with liver abscess, liver cancer, or missed diagnosis long before pathological diagnosis is obtained, thus delaying treatment. Early and accurate diagnosis, in addition to histopathological examination, is difficult. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging techniques have overwhelming advantages of being safe (noninvasive, radiation-free) and sensitive for evaluating the microcirculation of lesions, thus making them widely used in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions. Unfortunately, there are few reports of CEUS data on hepatic PTLD (HPTLD). This study reported and analyzed four cases of HPTLD in detail, all of which underwent pre-biopsy CEUS examinations and had a complete diagnosis and treatment process. By offering readers comprehensive knowledge of CEUS in the diagnosis of HPTLD, our study aims to help reduce misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses, thereby improving patient treatment and prognosis.

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