Although post-
transplantation lymphoproliferative
disease (PTLD) after
liver transplantation is very rare, its
prognosis is worse than that of PTLD following other types of solid
organ transplantation. Here, we
report a rare case of early onset polymorphic PTLD in a
graft liver occurring five months after deceased-
donor liver transplantation due to
hepatocellular carcinoma and
hepatitis C virus infection. Initially, findings from contrast-enhanced
magnetic resonance imaging mistakenly suspected the lesion was a necrotizing
abscess with central
necrosis. However, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose
positron emission tomography and
biopsy findings confirmed an
Epstein-Barr virus (
EBV)-associated, B
cell type polymorphic PTLD with central
necrosis. Our case suggests regular
monitoring of
EBV serologic status for
liver transplant recipients
who were initially in an
EBV seronegative
state. Although early-onset PTLD is very rare after
liver transplantation, PTLD should be suspected when recipients show the
seroconversion for
EBV proteins and the development of new
tumors with various clinical presentations.