Kidney transplantation and tumours.

During the period 1964--1978 700 renal transplants were given to 602 patients. Eight patients had a history of tumour before transplantation. After transplantation six cases with a de novo tumour were found. The treatment of the pretransplant tumours was completed on average 3 years before transplantation. The average interval from transplantation to discovery of de novo tumour was 2 years. The pretransplant tumours appeared 5 to 9 years before last control (Jan. 79) (mean 8 years). Two of the transplanted patients with previous tumours died later of their tumours. The others are still alive. Two of the patients with de novo tumour died of vascular accidents and one of tumour. The other three are alive. It seems that transplantation can be successful in patients with previous tumours. This study does not support previous reports of increased risk of de novo tumours in transplanted patients.