Acute complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantations - a radiological perspective

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies has increased significantly.
• Acute post-transplant complications within 100 days lead to high morbidity and mortality (up to 30%).
• Subtle symptoms across organ systems necessitate advanced imaging for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide radiologists with an updated overview of acute complications following stem cell transplantation.
• To align imaging insights with the latest European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) handbook guidelines (2024).
• To address the need for current information given the age of existing reviews.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of original studies on post-transplant complications imaging.
• PubMed database search for studies published in the last five years.
• Supplementary search to integrate findings with the EBMT handbook framework.

Main Results:

• Inclusion of 29 original studies published within the last five years.
• Identification of new insights into imaging acute complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
• The review offers a concise overview of typical acute organ-specific complications.

Conclusions:

• Acute complications post-stem cell transplantation continue to be associated with high mortality.
• Imaging is crucial for the timely diagnosis and effective management of these complications.
• This review presents a current, guideline-based summary of common acute post-transplant issues.