Abstract
PURPOSE: We report the case of a renal transplant recipient with rectal lymphoma manifested by sudden onset of abdominal pain from a perforated rectum who was treated successfully with prompt surgical resection and reduction of immunosuppressants. METHODS: An emergent anterior resection with Hartmann's procedure was done. Immunosuppressants were drastically reduced by discontinuation of cyclosporine. RESULTS: Pathologic examination showed diffusely infiltrated large-cell malignant lymphoma with an immunoblastic feature. The patient has been followed-up for four years, with no tumor recurrence or graft rejection. CONCLUSION: Rectal lymphoma, although rare, should be kept in the list of differential diagnoses for transplant recipients who exhibit lower gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, or abdominal pain.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Penn I. Lymphomas complicating organ transplantation. Transplant Proc 1983;15(Suppl 1):2790–7.
Wilkinson AH, Smith JL, Hunsicker LG,et al. Increased frequency of posttransplant lymphomas in patients treated with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone. Transplantation 1989;47:293–6.
Cockburn I. Assessment of the risks of malignancy and lymphomas develo** in patients using Sandimmune. Transplant Proc 1987;19:1804–7.
Penn I. Cancers following cyclosporine therapy. Transplant Proc 1987;19:2211–3.
Nalesnik MA. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by Epstein-Barr Virus-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Am J Surg Pathol 1990;14(Suppl 1):92–100.
Pinkus GS, Wilson RE, Corson JM. Reticulum cell sarcoma of the colon following renal transplantation. Cancer 1974;34:2103–8.
Coggon DN, Rose DH, Ansell JD. A large bowel lymphoma complicating renal transplantation. Br J Radiol 1981;54:418–20.
Stylianos S, Chen HM, Treat MR, LoGerfo P, Rose EA. Colonic lymphoma as a cause of massive rectal bleeding in a cardiac transplant recipient. J Cardiovasc Surg 1990;31:315–7.
Chu SH, Lai MK, Huang CC, Chuang CK. Lymphoma in cyclosporine-treated renal transplant recipients. Transplant Proc 1992;24:1594–5.
Chu SH, Lai MK, Chuang CK,et al. Perforated gastrointestinal lymphoma in kidney transplant recipients. Transplant Proc 1996;28:1478–9.
Chu SH, Lai MK, Huang CC, Chuang CK, Chen HW, Chen CS. Prognosis of posttransplant lymphomas in patients treated with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone. Transplant Proc 1994;26:1981–2.
Beveridge T, Krupp P, Mckibbin C. Lymphoma and lymphoproliferative lesions develo** under cyclosporine therapy [letter]. Lancet 1984;1:788.
Bia MJ, Flye MW. Immunoblastic lymphoma in a cyclosporine-treated renal transplant recipient. Transplantation 1985;39:673–5.
Penn I. Cancers complicating organ transplantation. N Engl J Med 1990;323:1767–9.
Penn I. Why do immunosuppressed patients develop cancer? Crit Rev Oncog 1989;1:27–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Read at the meeting of the Journal of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Kaohsing, Taiwan, Republic of China, August 4, 1996.
About this article
Cite this article
Fan, CW., Chen, JS., Wang, J.Y. et al. Perforated rectal lymphoma in a renal transplant recipient. Dis Colon Rectum 40, 1258–1260 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02055175
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02055175