Postoperative complications of lung transplantation: radiologic findings along a time continuum

Abstract

In the past decade, lung transplantation has become established as an accepted therapy for end-stage pulmonary disease. Complications of lung transplantation that may occur in the immediate or longer postoperative term include mechanical problems due to a size mismatch between the donor lung and the recipient thoracic cage; malposition of monitoring tubes and lines; injuries from ischemia and reperfusion; acute pleural events; hyperacute, acute, and chronic rejection; pulmonary infections; bronchial anastomotic complications; pulmonary thromboembolism; upper-lobe fibrosis; primary disease recurrence; posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder; and native lung complications such as hyperinflation, malignancy, and infection. Radiologic imaging--particularly chest radiography, computed tomography (CT), and high-resolution CT--is critical for the early detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of complications after lung transplantation. To enable the selection of an effective and relevant course of therapy and, ultimately, to decrease morbidity and mortality among lung transplant recipients, radiologists at all levels of experience must be able to recognize and understand the imaging manifestations of posttransplantation complications.