Multicenter analysis of posttransplant malignancies

Abstract

It is well known that transplant patients are at an increased risk of developing malignant tumors. The most striking increase, in comparison to the general population, is observed concerning the occurrence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) [1]. We have recently quantified this risk to be approximately 20 times the background rate in the general population for kidney transplant recipients and 120 times background for heart transplant recipients [2]. In the present paper we present results of a refined analysis of risk factors associated with the occurrence of NHL. Moreover, we present results of a preliminary analysis concerning the occurrence of tumors other than NHL in recipients of different types of organ transplants.