A review of adenotonsillar hypertrophy and adenotonsillectomy in children after solid organ transplantation

Navigating Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Current Knowledge and Strategies for Treatment and Surveillance

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in pediatric liver transplant recipients. PTLD is one of the most common malignancies following liver transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Factors such as EBV-serostatus mismatch and prolonged or high levels of immunosuppression impact a patient's risk of developing PTLD. While pre-transplant EBV serological screening and post-transplant monitoring of EBV-DNA levels are strongly recommended, universal guidelines for its prevention and management are lacking. Due to a lack of robust prospective studies, current clinical practices vary widely. The treatment of PTLD typically involves reducing immunosuppression and using targeted therapies such as rituximab, or chemotherapy for refractory cases. This review aims to address our current understanding of EBV's relationship with PTLD, evaluate the available treatment modalities, and highlight evolving strategies for using EBV as a biomarker for PTLD screening and prevention.

Multisite Head and Neck Pediatric Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder: A Case Report

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) can mimic infectious processes in the head and neck. A high index of suspicion for PTLD must be maintained in pediatric transplant patients, and minimal response to antibiotics/corticosteroids should prompt timely biopsy of suspicious tissue to expedite the diagnosis and treatment of PTLD.

Predictors of Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease in Pediatric Patients

OBJECTIVE

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a complication of pediatric solid organ transplantation. Benign adenotonsillar lymphoid hyperplasia confounds the ability to diagnose PTLD. Our aim was to identify factors that predict the presence of PTLD to inform decision-making regarding adenotonsillectomy.

METHODS

The electronic medical records at a quaternary children's hospital were queried over a 23-year period (2000-2023) for solid organ transplant patients that underwent tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. Demographics, clinical presentation, and EBV serologies were analyzed to determine factors associated with presence of PTLD on final pathology.

RESULTS

A total of 114 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. Thirty-two of the 114 patients (28.1%) who underwent tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy had PTLD. Age at transplant, age at biopsy, sex, race, and type of organ transplanted were not found to be associated with development of PTLD. Patients with PTLD were more likely to have smaller tonsils, sore throat, fever, and tonsillar exudate; they were less likely to experience sleep disordered breathing. The immunosuppression agent used for induction and the number of maintenance immunosuppressive medications were not associated with the development of PTLD. Increased Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) PCR copy number correlated to increased risk of developing PTLD (p < 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Tonsillar hypertrophy and sleep disordered breathing are not necessarily indicative of the presence of PTLD. Suspicion for adenotonsillar PTLD should be based on symptomatology, clinical exam, EBV serologies, and degree of EBV PCR positivity. Sore throat, fever, tonsillar exudates, and significant elevation in EBV PCR copy number are particularly concerning for PTLD.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 2025.

Tonsillectomy Outcomes in Children After Solid-Organ Transplantation: A 15-Year Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVE

Solid-organ transplantation (SOT) has become the standard of care for children with terminal organ failure. Long-term immunosuppression has improved survival substantially but is associated with secondary malignancies and impaired wound healing. Our goal was to review the incidence, outcomes, complications, and rate of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder on pathologic examination following tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy (T/AT) in children after SOT.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care children's hospital.

METHODS

Data were extracted from charts of children with a history of kidney, heart, or liver transplantation, who underwent T/AT between 2006 and 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 46 hearts, 41 kidneys, 19 livers, and 4 liver-and-kidney transplants. The mean age at transplantation was 4.2 years, and the mean transplantation-to-T/AT time interval was 28.8 months. The posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder was diagnosed in 52 (47.3%) patients, and 25% of these had no tonsillar hypertrophy. There was no difference in age at transplantation, organ received, transplantation-to-T/AT time interval, immunosuppressive medications, tonsil size, or tonsillar asymmetry between patients diagnosed with the posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder and patients with benign tonsillar/adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Posttonsillectomy complications were similar between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder undergoing tonsillectomy for any indication was 47.3%. There was no association between preoperative signs and symptoms and the histopathological diagnosis of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Stratification by organ received and immunosuppressive medications did not identify differences among the groups relative to the incidence of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder and other postoperative complications.

Transplantation for congenital heart disease is associated with an increased risk of Epstein-Barr virus-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in children

BACKGROUND

Children undergoing heart transplant are at higher risk of developing post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) than other solid organ recipients. The factors driving that risk are unclear. This study investigated risk factors for PTLD in children transplanted at 1 of 2 United Kingdom pediatric cardiac transplantation centers.

METHODS

All children (<18 years, n = 200) transplanted at our institution over a 16-year period were analyzed. Freedom from PTLD was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional regression.

RESULTS

PTLD occurred in 17 of 71 children transplanted for congenital heart disease (CHD) and 18 of 129 transplanted for acquired cardiomyopathy (ACM). The cumulative incidence of all PTLD was 21.1% at 5 years after transplant. Median time from transplant to PTLD was 2.9 years (interquartile range: 0.9-4.6). Negative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serostatus pre-transplant (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3-5.6, p = 0.01) and underlying CHD (adjusted HR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.4-7.4, p = 0.007) were independently associated with higher risk of PTLD. Age at thymectomy was significantly different between children with CHD and ACM (0.4 vs 5.5 years, p < 0.01). Median CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts at 2 years after transplant were significantly lower in children transplanted for CHD vs ACM (CD4⁺: 391/µl vs 644/µl, p = 0.01; CD8⁺: 382/µl vs 500/µl, p = 0.01). At 5 years after transplant, those differences persisted among patients who developed PTLD (CD4⁺, 430/µl vs 963/µl, p < 0.01 and CD8⁺, 367/µl vs 765/µl, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Underlying CHD is an independent risk factor for PTLD and is associated with a younger age at thymectomy. A persistent association with altered T lymphocyte subsets may contribute to the impaired response to primary EBV infection and increase the risk of PTLD.

Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Children: A 360-degree Perspective

An earlier incorrect version of this article appeared online. This article was corrected on December 17, 2019.