Due to immunosuppressive therapy, the lung is a frequent site of opportunistic infection in organ transplants of all types and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. As in lung transplant recipients, infections may cause diffuse alveolar damage, organizing pneumonia, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders in recipients of other organ transplants.

In addition to infections, other pathologic changes of noninfectious etiology may be seen in the lungs after the transplantation of other organs including intra-alveolar and interstitial calcifications, interstitial pneumonia, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.