Post-lung transplantation abdominopelvic complications: the role of multimodal imaging

Lung transplantation (LT) is an established method for treating end-stage lung disease. Although most of the post-lung transplant imaging surveillance is focused on chronic lung allograft rejection, abdominopelvic complications have been reported in 7-62% of patients. The reported wide range of post-LT abdominopelvic complications is thought to be secondary to lack of current standardized definitions. These complications encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders including upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, inflammatory conditions of solid organs, lymphoproliferative disorders, and neoplasms; each with varying pathophysiology, timing, severity, and treatment. Clinical manifestations of these complications may overlap or be masked by immunosuppression; therefore, imaging plays a paramount role in the early management and treatment.