Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of an Allograft Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

Abstract Background Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are rarely described in transplanted kidneys. Available therapeutic strategies range from allograft nephrectomy to nephron-sparing procedures such as partial nephrectomy or image-guided thermal ablation. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique which provides promising oncologic outcomes in small allograft RCCs while preserving allograft function. So far, only a few cases have been reported in the transplant setting. We describe a renal transplant RCC successfully approached by ultrasound-guided RFA. Methods A 42-year-old renal transplant recipient developed a small subcapsular allograft RCC at 11 years after transplantation. The decline in glomerular filtration rare prompted us to preserve as much parenchyma as possible. Ultrasound-guided RFA was performed under light sedation and local analgesia in a single session with a Starbust Talon needle. Results Postablation contrast-enhanced ultrasound displayed a 25×23 mm avascular area of complete necrosis. After 3 months gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the absence of viable tumor tissue and while the patient did not experience any graft function reduction (serum creatinine 2.6 mg/dL). Conclusions Image-guided RFA represents a promising therapeutic modality for small allograft RCCs in recipients with mild graft dysfunction and/or elevated surgical risk. It is associated with low morbidity and parenchymal preservation.