Showing posts with label Tranplantation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tranplantation. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Skin Cancer in Renal Transplant Patient

The patient is a 64 yo man who received a renal transplant x years ago and is maintained on prednisone and Prograf.  He presented with a 4 cm biopsy proven superficial squamous cell carcinoma on the left parietal scalp.  This lesion would have necessitated a large micrographic surgical procedure with a graft.

An attempt was made to treat with topical chemotherapy.  Imiquimod was inititiated, but there was only minimal response after two weeks.  Five fluorouracil was then added and this achieved a moderate response.  The combination of imiquimod/5FU was continued for a total of six weeks, then stopped.  One month later there appears to be a clinical cure.  He will be followed closely.  

There is a possibility that this combination therapy can help selected transplant patients with low risk superficial nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Clinical Photos:
After Six Weeks Imiquimod/5FU






One month after Stopping Imiquimod/5FU


Comment:  This treatment made me a little nervous, but the surgical approach would have been major for a lesion that had only a small chance of of metastasizing.  The benefits and risks were discussed with the patient; however, his oncologist was unhappy about this approach.



Sunday, July 31, 2011

KS in Renal Transplant Patient

Omid Zargari, a dermatologist from Rasht, Iran, is asking for your help regarding a 74 year old man with extensive Kaposi's sarcoma after renal transplantation. The disease began about two years ago, when he was on Cyclosporine (plus prednisolone). At that time, I asked the nephrologist to change CsA with Sirolimus. Now, he's on Pred+cellcept+sirolimus.
I've seen several cases of post-transplant KS. All of them regressed after discontinuing CsA and haven't seen a case with such extent. HHV8 screening is not available here. I referred him to an oncologist, but he refused to start any chemotherapy because he believed this is not a life-threatening condition....considering the amount of impact the disease has put on the QOL of this gentleman, he is seeking for any help...at least a palliation.
What do you suggest?