B-Cell Lymphoma Diagnosed in an Explanted Liver of a Patient With Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis Cirrhosis

TL;DR

A rare case of B-cell lymphoma was found in a liver explant from a patient with liver cirrhosis, highlighting the need for thorough cancer screening before liver transplants.

Contribution

The paper reports a rare case of primary B-cell lymphoma diagnosed in a liver explant after transplantation.

Findings

Low-grade B-cell lymphoma was identified in a liver explant from a patient with cirrhosis.

Pre-transplant biopsy of lymph nodes was negative for malignancy.

The case emphasizes the importance of thorough cancer screening before liver transplantation.

Abstract

Hepatic malignancies in explanted livers are not uncommon; however, finding primary nonhepatic malignancies in explanted livers of any etiology is very rare. Given its rarity, we present a case of low-grade B-cell lymphoma in the liver explant of a patient with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis cirrhosis after orthotopic liver transplantation. Preorthotopic liver transplantation workup was notable for periportal lymphadenopathy that was negative for malignancy per ultrasound-guided biopsy, so this finding was surprising. This unexpected diagnosis of lymphoma despite negative workup during pretransplant evaluation underscores the importance for liver transplant centers to conduct thorough investigations for malignancies before transplantation.

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