Partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in an allograft kidney with limited functional reserve

The increased risk of malignancies is a well-recognized complication of organ transplantation. When renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs in kidney transplant recipients, less than 10% of it affects the allograft. Recent experience suggests that partial allograft nephrectomy for tumours less than 4 cm may be considered the treatment of choice. We report a case of a 3.3 cm RCC discovered in a renal allograft. Limited allograft function was due to segmental infarction after transplant surgery and chronic allograft nephropathy. She underwent successful partial allograft nephrectomy. At 36 months post-surgery, there is no evidence of RCC recurrence and she remains free of renal replacement therapy.