Screenings after an organ transplant

Skin and lip checks

The American Cancer Society says people who get organ transplants usually take medicines that weaken the immune system, which raises their risk of skin cancer, and that skin cancers in people with a weakened immune system tend to grow faster and are often harder to treat. (ACS, skin) For kidney transplant recipients, KDIGO recommends telling them their risk of skin and lip cancer is very high, especially those with fair skin, who live in sunny climates or work in the sun, had a lot of sun as a child or have had skin cancer, and suggests: (KDIGO, 2009)

skin and lip self-examinations by adult recipients, reporting new spots to a health care provider
a skin and lip examination once a year by a qualified health professional with experience in diagnosing skin cancer, except possibly for recipients with dark skin pigmentation

See skin checks by age and skin cancer check: what to expect.

Cervical screening

A 2025 review of guidelines for immunosuppressed women without HIV found a higher risk of HPV infection, cervical precancer and cervical cancer after a solid organ transplant. It recommends increased screening for transplant recipients, following the CDC cervical screening guidelines for people living with HIV, and notes a higher risk of vulvar, anal and vaginal cancer too. (Moscicki, 2025) Under those CDC guidelines, as summarized in the review, screening starts at 21 with a Pap (cytology) test every 12 months, which can move to every 3 years after 3 normal results in a row; from 30, Pap and HPV co-testing every 3 years after a normal baseline is another option. (Moscicki, 2025) The American Cancer Society says people with a weakened immune system from an organ or stem cell transplant may need a different screening plan, such as being screened more often, and should talk to their provider. (ACS, cervical) See screenings if you have HIV, Pap smear: what to expect, Pap and HPV test results and anal cancer screening.

Other cancer screening

For kidney transplant recipients, KDIGO says to develop an individual screening plan that takes into account past medical and family history, tobacco use, competing risks for death and how well the test works, and to screen for these cancers as per local guidelines for the general population: (KDIGO, 2009)

women: cervical, breast and colon cancer
men: prostate and colon cancer
anyone with compensated cirrhosis: a liver ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein blood test every 12 months

The usual schedule is on cancer screenings by age; see also colorectal cancer screening tests compared, mammogram: what to expect and liver cancer surveillance.

Blood sugar

The ADA says screening for high blood sugar should be done after organ transplantation, with a formal diagnosis of post-transplant diabetes best made once the person is stable on an immunosuppressive plan and without an acute infection, and that the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the preferred test. It says the OGTT can be used as early as 3 months after the transplant, and that fasting glucose or A1C can pick out people who need further testing. (ADA, 2026) An international consensus says the OGTT is essential for diagnosis and screening, should start on the transplant waiting list, and should be repeated (for example yearly) for people with prediabetes or risk factors. (PTDM consensus, 2024) For kidney transplant recipients without diabetes, KDIGO recommends screening with fasting glucose, an OGTT and/or HbA1c at least weekly for 4 weeks, every 3 months for 1 year and then once a year. (KDIGO, 2009) See A1c and blood sugar test results.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and tobacco

For kidney transplant recipients, KDIGO says: (KDIGO, 2009)

blood pressure measured at each clinic visit
a full lipid (cholesterol) profile in adults and adolescents 2 to 3 months after the transplant, 2 to 3 months after a change in treatment or other conditions known to affect lipids, and at least once a year after that
height, weight and BMI at each visit, with waist size when BMI is under 35 but weight and appearance suggest obesity
screening for tobacco use, including adolescents and children, during the transplant hospital stay and at least once a year after that

See blood pressure readings: what they mean, cholesterol test results and screenings if you smoke.

Bone density

KDIGO suggests measuring bone mineral density (BMD) in the first 3 months after a kidney transplant in people with an eGFR above about 30 mL/min/1.73 m² who receive corticosteroids or have risk factors for osteoporosis as in the general population. (KDIGO, 2009) See bone density test: how often and DEXA scan: what to expect. Kidney function, anemia and mineral checks are on screenings if you have kidney disease.

Where they differ:

How often cervical screening is done. KDIGO (2009) says to screen kidney transplant recipients for cervical cancer as per local guidelines for the general population, (KDIGO, 2009) while the 2025 review recommends the more frequent CDC schedule for people living with HIV (Moscicki, 2025) and the American Cancer Society says a different plan may be needed. (ACS, cervical)
Which blood sugar test. KDIGO accepts fasting glucose, an OGTT and/or HbA1c; (KDIGO, 2009) the ADA prefers the OGTT for diagnosis, (ADA, 2026) and the international consensus says HbA1c lacks the sensitivity to diagnose post-transplant diabetes. (PTDM consensus, 2024)
Which organ. Most detailed screening advice was written for kidney transplant recipients; the systematic review found that guidance varied considerably by transplanted organ. (Acuna, 2017)

Your doctor decides what your result means for you.

Questions people ask

How often is a skin check done after a kidney transplant?

For adult kidney transplant recipients, KDIGO suggests a skin and lip examination once a year by a qualified health professional with experience in diagnosing skin cancer, except possibly for recipients with dark skin pigmentation, along with skin and lip self-examinations. (KDIGO, 2009)

Is cervical screening different after a transplant?

A 2025 review of guidelines for immunosuppressed women without HIV recommends that solid organ transplant recipients follow the CDC cervical screening guidelines for people living with HIV, which are more frequent than the general schedule. The American Cancer Society says people with a weakened immune system from an organ transplant may need a different screening plan and should talk to their provider. (Moscicki, 2025) (ACS, cervical)

Do the usual cancer screenings still apply after a transplant?

KDIGO says to screen kidney transplant recipients for cervical, breast and colon cancer (women) and prostate and colon cancer (men) as per local guidelines for the general population, within an individual plan that weighs past and family history, tobacco use and competing risks. (KDIGO, 2009)

Which blood sugar test is used after a transplant?

The ADA says screening for high blood sugar should be done after organ transplantation and that the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the preferred test to diagnose post-transplant diabetes. KDIGO allows fasting glucose, an OGTT and/or HbA1c. (ADA, 2026) (KDIGO, 2009)

Is a bone density scan done after a kidney transplant?

KDIGO suggests measuring bone mineral density in the first 3 months after a kidney transplant in people with an eGFR above about 30 who receive corticosteroids or have risk factors for osteoporosis as in the general population. (KDIGO, 2009)