American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What type of cancer is particularly high risk in kidney transplant patients?

1. Breast cancer

2. Colorectal cancer

3. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

4. Lung cancer

The correct answer is: Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

In kidney transplant patients, the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is particularly elevated due to several factors related to the transplant procedure and subsequent immunosuppressive therapy. Post-transplant, patients are placed on immunosuppressive medications to prevent organ rejection. These medications lead to a decreased ability of the body to ward off not only infections but also the growth of cancer cells. UV exposure is also a significant contributor to skin cancer risk, and kidney transplant recipients are generally advised to be cautious due to increased sensitivity of the skin after transplantation. Regarded as immunocompromised, these patients have a heightened susceptibility to malignant skin lesions, particularly squamous cell carcinomas, which are more aggressive and can occur at a higher frequency compared to the general population. While other cancers like breast, colorectal, and lung cancers do occur in these patients, the specific association of squamous cell carcinoma with immunosuppression in transplant recipients makes it the cancer type with particularly high risk in this population.