Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001; 49(3): 187-188
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-14286
Case Report
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Pneumonectomy for Lung Cancer in Heart Transplant Recipient

J. T. Strauch, I. Aleksic, M. M. Baryalei, H. Dalichau
  • Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Göttingen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

Prolonged nonspecific immunosuppression after solid-organ transplantation is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers [1]. Review of the medical literature reveals that the combination of profound immunossuppression (triple-drug immunosuppression), a heavy smoking history, advanced age and a working exposition puts cardiac transplant recipients at increased risk for the development of aggressive Iung cancer [2]. These tumors in cardiac transplant recipients carry a poor prognosis. We present one case of bronchogenic carcinoma in a cardiac transplant patient. The patient was operated to resect the tumor and a long-term cure and a good quality of life should, however, be offered.

References

  • 1 Pham S M. et al . Solid Tumors after Heart Transplantation: Lethality for Lung Cancer.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1995;  60 1623-1626
  • 2 Johanson W M. et al . Double Jeopardy: Lung Cancer After Cardiac Transplantation.  Chest. 1998;  113 1720-1723
  • 3 Penn I. Incidence and treatment of neoplasia after transplantation.  J Heart Lung Transplant. 1993;  12 328-336
  • 4 Flemming R H, Jennison S H, Naunheim K S. Primary Bronchogenic Carcinoma in the Heart Transplant Recipient.  Ann Thorac Surg. 1994;  57 1300-1301

Received for Publication: July 13, 2000

Justus Thomas Strauch

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Bachstraße 18

07743 Jena

Germany

Phone: +49-3641-934805

Fax: +49-3641-934802

Email: justus.strauch@med.uni-jena.de