Cytogenetic abnormalities in a secondary lymphoma complicating cardiac transplantation

We report a case of secondary lymphoma in the brain in a cardiac transplant recipient. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the presence of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities. Two clones with unrelated chromosomal abnormalities were noted; in both abnormal clones, trisomy for the long arm of chromosome 11 was observed. Our observations, combined with single cases previously reported, suggest that a gain of the long arm of chromosome 11 may represent a characteristic cytogenetic abnormality that is associated with secondary lymphoma.