Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of tumor in transplanted kidney.

Treatment options for tumors in allograft kidneys include radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery. Nephron-sparing procedures relieve the patient of the necessity of immediate dialysis. Partial nephrectomy is technically challenging and potentially difficult because of existing comorbidities and adhesions from previous surgery. Probe ablation is technically simpler and is associated with lower morbidity, shorter hospitalization, and reduced convalescence compared with open partial nephrectomy of a renal allograft. We present an interesting case with a synchronous finding of a papillary renal cancer in a native and allograft kidney, in which the allograft tumor was treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.