Radiological imaging and its utility in lung transplantation: Our experience and review of literature

Abstract

Lung transplantation (LT) can be considered a definite treatment for end-stage pulmonary disease in appropriate patients. Depending upon various clinical factors, LT can be performed either as a single LT, bilateral LT, or heart LT. Although LT is a well-established procedure now, it is not without its own complications. In post-LT patients, several complications can have overlapping clinical and imaging features; therefore, early and accurate diagnosis can be challenging. Due to this difficulty, an interdisciplinary approach is imperative. Bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and transbronchial biopsy may be required in this approach, in addition to the routine investigations. The treating team should be aware of the possible complications after LT and the associated imaging features that may occur at varying time points following transplantation to provide prompt management. This article describes our experience and reviews the utility of radiological imaging in LT in relation to complications that may occur following LT.

Keywords

• chest x-ray
• complications
• computed tomography scan
• lung transplantation