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. 2016 Jun 6;2(7):e88.
doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000000549. eCollection 2016 Jul.

Donor-Derived Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: Pause Before Proceeding With Liver Retransplantation

Yasir Al-Azzawi  1 , Lance L Stein  2 , Roshan Shrestha  2 , Devina Bhasin  2 , Steven J Citron  3 , Raymond A Rubin  2
Affiliations

Donor-Derived Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumor: Pause Before Proceeding With Liver Retransplantation

Yasir Al-Azzawi et al. Transplant Direct. .

Abstract

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are rare but the age-adjusted incidence in the United States has increased, possibly due to improved radiographic and endoscopic detection. In advanced NET, hepatic metastases are common. Orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) is currently considered an acceptable therapy for selected patients with limited hepatic disease or liver metastases where complete resection is thought to have curative intent. The development of NET of donor origin is very uncommon after organ transplant, and it is unclear if the same treatment strategies applied to hepatic NET would also be efficacious after OLT. Here, we describe a unique case of an OLT recipient with a donor-derived NET that was treated with redo OLT as the primary therapy. The donor-derived NET recurred in the recipient's second liver allograft suggesting an extrahepatic reservoir. This case describes the natural history of such a rare event. Here, we highlight the treatment options for hepatic NET and challenge the role of OLT for a donor-derived hepatic NET.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no funding or conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
A, contrast-enhanced MRI five years after first OLT demonstrating new masses (white arrows).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Contrast-enhanced MRI demonstrating segment VI lesion in the second OLT (white arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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