Inflammatory and Ischemic Post Liver Transplant Complications Mimic Malignancy on 18F-FDG PET/CT

Abstract

A 65-year-old male patient with a one year history of liver transplantation was referred for an 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ( 18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to rule out post transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Multiple foci of intense abnormal 18 F-FDG uptake were seen in the transplanted liver which were concerning for malignancy. Explantation of the liver approximately 1 month following the PET/CT revealed multiple inflammatory and ischemic changes including large bile duct necrosis, acute cholangitis, bile duct obstruction changes and periportal fibrosis, with no evidence of malignancy. We present the 18 F-FDG PET/CT image findings of this case.