Early and late-onset acute GvHD following hematopoietic cell transplantation: CT features of gastrointestinal involvement with clinical and pathological correlation.

OBJECTIVE: With the introduction of non-myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation, acute graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) is frequently observed beyond the traditional 100 days cut-off. The aim of this study was to describe and compare CT features of gastrointestinal early and late-onset GvHD and to correlate findings with clinical and pathology grading.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Abdominal CT scans were obtained in 20 patients with early and 15 with late-onset GvHD. Examinations were assessed for intestinal and extraintestinal abnormalities and findings compared between the two subgroups of GvHD. Distinct CT abnormalities as well as a CT-score integrating multiple pathologies were correlated with gut, clinical or pathology grading.

RESULTS: Frequent intestinal abnormalities included wall thickening, abnormal enhancement, and excessive fluid-filling (94%, 89%, and 94%). 86% of patients showed concomitant small and large bowel involvement. A discontinuous distribution was observed in 54%. Bile tract abnormality was the most common extra-intestinal finding (74%). The distribution of pathologies was equal between subgroups of early or late-onset disease. Wall thickening and mucosal attenuation in non-enhanced scans were significantly related to clinical and pathology scores (P
CONCLUSION: CT morphology of acute GvHD is independent of its time of onset and, thus, facilitates differential diagnosis of late-onset acute GvHD. Correlation of CT morphology with clinical and pathological grading is important in terms of prognosis and may help guiding the therapeutic approach.