Renal Cell Carcinoma and Kidney Transplantation: A Narrative Review.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The cancer can be encountered at different steps in the transplant process. RCC found during work-up of a transplant candidate needs treatment and to limit the risk of recurrence usually a mandatory observation period before transplantation is recommended. An observation period may be omitted for candidates with incidentally discovered and excised small RCCs (<3 cm). Likewise, RCC in the donor organ may not always preclude usage if tumor is small (<2 to 4 cm) and removed with clear margins before transplantation. After transplantation, 90% of RCCs are detected in the native kidneys, particularly if acquired cystic kidney disease has developed during prolonged dialysis. Screening for RCC after transplantation has not been found cost-effective. Treatment of RCC in KTRs poses challenges with adjustments of immunosuppression and oncologic treatments. For localized RCC, excision or nephrectomy is often curative. For metastatic RCC, recent landmark trials in the nontransplanted population demonstrate that immunotherapy combinations improve survival. Dedicated trials in KTRs are lacking. Case series on immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid organ recipients with a range of cancer types indicate partial or complete tumor response in approximately one-third of the patients at the cost of rejection developing in ~40%.

MRI in the Follow-up of Testicular Cancer: Less is More.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to report the location of abdominal relapse in patients with testicular cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study including patients who underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after treatment of testicular germ cell cancer. MRI reports were classified as negative or positive, and positive results were cross-checked with follow-up imaging and biopsy results. Positive histology or cytology defined a true-positive finding. The location of relapse was registered according to the anatomical site. RESULTS: In a 2-year period, 2,315 MRI examinations were performed. Relapse was detected in 0.7% (95% CI=0.4-1.1) of the examinations. Among these, 75% were seminomas and 25% were non-seminomas. Retroperitoneal lymph nodes were affected in 88% of cases, and pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes affected in 12% of cases. No metastases were found in parenchymatous organs or bony structures. CONCLUSION: All cases of abdominal relapse occurred in retroperitoneal or pelvic lymph nodes. This suggests that MRI should be directed towards the retroperitoneum and pelvis only.