Cerebral Glioblastoma in Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Abstract

Cancers is a leading cause of mortality among transplant recipients. The most common cancers are skin tumors. Glioblastoma is the most frequent brain tumor in adults aged 45 - 70 years. It accounts for 12% - 15% of all intracranial tumors. It is characterized by its rapid development and poor prognosis. We report the case of a cerebral glioblastoma in a kidney transplant recipient. Clinical case: Mr G.R, 44 years old caucasian patient who underwent kidney transplantation. Immunosuppressive treatment included cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and methylprednisolone. Creatinine levels after transplantation remained stable at 11 mg/L (96.8 μmol/l) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 77 ml/min/1.73m2 after a 15 years of follow-up. A grade IV right fronto-callossal cerebral glioblastoma was diagnosed in our patient. EBV PCR was negative. Therefore, he underwent 25 sessions of radiotherapy combined with oral chemotherapy using temozolomide. One month later, the patient died due to cerebral edema with subfalcine herniation. Conclusion: This is a case of cerebral glioblastoma in a kidney transplant recipient, a population considered at risk for tumor development due to immunosuppressive treatment. This emphasizes the need for a lifelong surveillance and, more importantly a better balance between graft function preservation and the risks associated with immunosuppressants.