In this retrospective study we evaluated the incidence, clinical presentation and management of lymphocele in recipients after renal allograft transplantation. Between September 1984 and June 2005, 2147 patients (1185 males and 962 females) have received renal allografts all from living donors. Diagnosis of lymphocele was made by ultrasound examination only in symptomatic patients. There were 17 (0.8%) cases of symptomatic lymphocele (9 females and 8 males) that presented with rise of serum creatinine (8 patients; 47%), pain and pelvi-abdominal swelling (5 patients; 29%) and lower extremity edema (4 patients; 24%). The average volume of lymphocele was 275±120 ml. Percutaneous drainage was primarily performed in 11 patients but re-accumulation occurred in 7 of them that were treated with surgical approach. In 6 cases with multiloculated collection or inappropriate access for percutaneous drainage, the primary approach was surgical intraperitoneal drainage. All the cases were successfully treated with no graft loss. Symptomatic lymphocele is an uncommon complication after kidney transplantation. If not treated, it could result to ureteral compression and rise of creatinine. Surgical intraperitoneal drainage is the most effective approach for the management of symptomatic lymphocele.