Throax

Imaging of Lung Transplantation
http://www.appliedradiology.com/Article.aspx?id=14643
James G. Ravenel, MD and H. Page McAdams, MD

Although lung transplants are performed only at regional medical centers, an increasing number of posttransplant patients are found throughout the country. Therefore, it is important that radiologists appropriately image these patients and recognize complications that can result from the procedure. The author reviews important imaging considerations related to lung transplantation, particularly those that are expected to develop outside the transplant center.

In 1983, lung transplantation became a clinical reality and the number of procedures performed is steadily increasing. Approximately 1400 lung transplants are performed worldwide each year, 1 and there are now >17,000 patients in the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) registry. 2 Although the procedure itself remains limited to various regional centers, as more and more patients with lung transplants return to their home communities, it will be important for radiologists to appropriately image as well as recognize complications that can result from the procedure. The purpose of this article is to discuss the important imaging considerations related to lung transplantation, particularly those that are expected to develop outside the transplant center.