Hyderabad, August 5, 2026 — In a rare medical feat, doctors at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals, Secunderabad, have successfully treated a 42-year-old kidney transplant recipient for high-grade intestinal lymphoma while preserving her 17-year-old transplanted kidney.
The patient, who received a kidney from her mother in 2009, had been on lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection. In June 2025, she was admitted to KIMS with severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting and a weight loss of nearly 15 kg over three months.
Complex diagnosis and treatment challenge
Detailed investigations revealed a high-grade intestinal lymphoma causing recurrent bowel obstruction. Treating such an aggressive cancer in a kidney transplant patient posed an extremely complex challenge. The medical team had to balance powerful cancer treatment with the need to protect the transplanted kidney from damage.
Dr Mounika Boppana, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Hemato-Oncologist at KIMS, said the case required precise coordination between oncology, nephrology, surgery and critical care teams. The patient underwent chemo-immunotherapy with continuous monitoring. Doctors carefully adjusted chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drug dosages to control the cancer without compromising kidney function.
Surgery amid high risk
After three cycles of treatment, the tumour responded remarkably well. However, rapid tumour shrinkage led to a fistula between the small and large intestines. The patient developed severe diarrhoea, malnutrition and further weight loss.
A surgical team led by Dr M B V Prasad, General and GI Laparoscopic Surgeon, removed the affected portions of the intestine and reconstructed the bowel. Despite the high surgical risks associated with an immunocompromised patient, the operation was successful.
Full recovery and cancer remission
The patient received intensive postoperative care and recovered completely within four weeks. She later completed the remaining three cycles of chemo-immunotherapy. A follow-up whole-body PET scan confirmed complete remission of the cancer. Her transplanted kidney continues to function normally after 17 years.
The case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care in complex transplant-oncology cases. KIMS doctors said the successful outcome offers hope for similar patients facing dual challenges of organ transplantation and cancer.
