Transplantation of a kidney with a renal cell carcinoma after living donation: a case report

Transmission of cancer is a serious risk in organ transplantation. We present a case of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a kidney obtained from a living donor. A 48-year-old mother was evaluated for donation to her 12-year-old daughter. Donor renal ultrasound, intravenous pyelography, and angiography were normal. A 5 x 5 mm nodule found on the surface of the kidney during harvesting was totally excised before transplantation. The histology revealed RCC with free margins at 2 weeks after transplantation. The immunosuppressive drugs consisted of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone. The graft function remained stable. Donor and recipient are without evidence of tumor recurrence at 15 months after transplantation. This experience indicated that donor kidneys with small, incidental RCC may be managed with excision and transplantation, without tumor recurrence in recipients who are informed of the potential risks of recurrence and metastases.