Identification of occult active infection using PET-CT in a combined liver-kidney transplant candidate

Transpl Infect Dis. 2017 Dec;19(6). doi: 10.1111/tid.12776. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

Abstract

This case describes a patient being considered for combined liver-kidney transplantation for Caroli's disease with a failed renal transplant. A chronic septic focus could not be located with standard imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography and computed tomography. This case report highlights the observation that a retained non-functioning transplant can be the cause of fever of unknown origin and PET-CT can be useful in diagnosing these challenging cases.

Keywords: Caroli's disease; PET-CT; imaging; infection; transplant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Allografts / diagnostic imaging*
  • Allografts / microbiology
  • Allografts / pathology
  • Allografts / surgery
  • Caroli Disease / surgery*
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / microbiology
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / pathology
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / surgery
  • Graft Rejection / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney / diagnostic imaging*
  • Kidney / microbiology
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney / surgery
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Kidney Transplantation / methods
  • Liver Cirrhosis / congenital
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation / methods*
  • Male
  • Necrosis
  • Nephrectomy
  • Polycystic Kidney Diseases / surgery
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Preoperative Care / methods
  • Transplant Recipients
  • Treatment Failure
  • Ultrasonography