Adult T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma occurring 15 years after liver transplantation: A case report and literature review - 17/04/26

Highlights |
• | First reported case of ATLL occurring after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. |
• | Represents the first post-transplant ATLL case reported outside Japan. |
• | ATLL developed 15 years after liver transplantation, the longest latency described to date. |
• | Highlights the importance of surveillance for HTLV-1 carriers undergoing liver transplantation. |
Abstract |
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare malignancy caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). ATLL arising after liver transplantation is extremely uncommon, and all previously reported cases only involve recipients transplanted for acute liver failure. We report a 69-year-old man who developed acute-type ATLL 15 years after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma —representing the first such case in the literature and the longest latency described. He presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and leukocytosis with 32% atypical lymphocytes. Workup revealed HTLV-1 positivity, hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy, and bone marrow involvement. After the diagnosis of acute type ATLL, he received VCAP-AMP-VECP chemotherapy and intrathecal therapy, followed by interferon-α and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Despite treatment, he developed severe complications and died 11 months after diagnosis. This case expands the clinical spectrum of post-transplant ATLL, demonstrating that disease may occur many years after transplantation and even in recipients transplanted for HCC rather than acute liver failure. We propose a risk-stratified surveillance strategy for HTLV-1 carriers after liver transplantation.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Adult T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma, Liver transplantation, Post-transplant malignancy
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Vol 22
Article 100349- mai 2026 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
