To analyze the prevalence of neoplasms in renal transplant patients and the relative risk for each tumor type according to the immunosuppression regimen.609 renal transplants were reviewed. The risk index was determined by the ratio of the cases observed and predicted.Tumor prevalence was 4.9% (30/609); 6.3% (25/393) were males and 2.3% (5/216) were females. The most common tumors were cutaneous tumors other than melanoma, accounting for 2.4% (15/609), followed by Kaposi's sarcoma, pulmonary epidermoid carcinoma and genitourinary tumors (0.5%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (0.3%). Tumor prevalence was 6.8% for the group treated with azathioprine-prednisone and 3.9% for the cyclosporine A-prednisone-treated group. The estimated relative risk of having a neoplasm was 10-fold higher for the males and 4.2-fold higher for the females vs the general population. The mortality rate was 36.6%; specifically tumor-related in 82%. The mortality rate for those with solid tumors was 77.7%. The long-term survival rate for the group that developed a tumor was significantly lower than that of the general population, 75% vs 53%, respectively (p < 0.05).In this series no significant differences were observed relative to tumor prevalence or type according to the immunosuppression regimen. A recipient of a renal graft has a higher risk of developing a tumor. Cutaneous tumors were the most frequent. The long-term survival is lower for recipients of renal grafts who develop a tumor.