Primary central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders: the spectrum of imaging appearances and differential

OBJECTIVE: Central nervous system post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (CNS-PTLD) is a rare disease that presents with non-specific signs and symptoms. The purpose of this article is to present the imaging appearances of CNS-PTLD by magnetic resonance imaging. We highlight the differential diagnostic considerations including primary central nervous system lymphoma, glioblastoma, cerebral abscess, and metastatic disease. This is an important topic to review since in daily practice the diagnosis of CNS-PTLD is often not initially considered when present due to its rarity and the lack of radiologists’ familiarity with the disease. CONCLUSION: Knowing the unique imaging features of CNS-PTLD narrows the differential diagnosis, facilitates the diagnostic work-up, and optimizes making the diagnosis. Advanced MRI data for CNS PTLD is limited but is promising for helping with narrowing the differential diagnosis.