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Image of the Month—Quiz Case
Amy L. Friedman, MD;
Marc I. Lorber, MD;
Dennis Cooper, MD
From the Section of Organ Transplantation and Immunology, Department of Surgery (Drs Friedman and Lorber), and the Section of Medical Oncology and Surgery, Department of Internal Medicine (Dr Cooper), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
Arch Surg. 2003;138:1025.
INTRODUCTION
A 52-YEAR-OLD man underwent living unrelated donor renal transplantation for treatment of end-stage renal disease caused by congenital obstructive disease. Immunosuppression was initiated with 2 doses of simulect and maintained with cyclosporine microemulsion, mycophenolic acid, and prednisone. The allograft functioned immediately, and there were no rejection episodes. Thirteen months later, the patient complained of severe itching, malaise, and anorexia. Physical examination revealed diffuse excoriations and deep jaundice. Laboratory values included awhite blood cell count of 5.4 x 103/µL, serum creatinine level of 1.9 mg/dL (158 µmol/L), total bilirubin level of 15.2 mg/dL (260 µmol/L), direct bilirubin level of 12.4 mg/dL (212 µmol/L), alanine aminotransferase of 270 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase of 329 UL, and alkaline phosphatase of 1090 U/L. Images from the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
What Is the Most Appropriate Next Step in This Patient's Management?
A. Arrange hospice care since this patient's liver disease is incurable.
B. Place the patient on the emergent liver transplant list.
C. Stop cyclosporine since it has been associated with choledocholithiasis, and start tacrolimus.
D. Obtain a biopsy specimen of the hepatic mass.
Answer:
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding author and reprints: Amy L. Friedman, MD, Yale University School of Medicine, FMB 112, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520 (e-mail: amy.friedman{at}yale.edu).
SECTION EDITOR: GRACE S. ROZYCKI, MD
RELATED ARTICLE
Image of the Month—Diagnosis
Arch Surg. 2003;138(9):1026.
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