Lung Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lung Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Pancreatic cancer in cystic fibrosis after bilateral lung transplantation.

Petrowsky H, Schuster H, Irani S, Schäfer M, Jochum W, Schmid C, Boehler A, Clavien PA

Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic disease affecting 1 in 2500 white patients. Chronic obstructive lung disease and pancreatic insufficiency are the main clinical manifestations of CF. Lung transplantation has become a treatment option for advanced pulmonary disease during the last decade. On the other hand, there is evidence from large cohort studies that CF and immunosuppression are risk factors for pancreatic cancer. Here, we report the case of an 18-year-old female patient with CF and bilateral lung transplantation who underwent Whipple procedure for pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the age of 12 years. Because of growth retardation, the patient underwent a 2-year period of growth hormone treatment before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. This case should sensitize physicians to be aware of the increased risk for pancreatic cancer in CF patients especially in those after lung transplantation with immunosuppression and prolonged survival.

Published 2 November 2006 in Pancreas, 33(4): 430-2.
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