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Malignancy in the Brain-Dead Organ Donor

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The Brain-Dead Organ Donor

Abstract

The ongoing shortage of organ donors requires meticulous evaluation of all potential organ offers so as to maximize use of these lifesaving gifts. Such efforts must be counterbalanced by equal concerns for recipient safety. An important aspect of this process includes minimizing the possibility that unsuspected donor disease, including cancer, may be transmitted to the recipient. In this chapter, we discuss donor cancer and place it into context with current United States Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policy, current experience, and with efforts to minimize the risk of transmission via transplantation. Current systems to systematize categories of risk transmission are discussed and the use of organs from donors with certain types of tumors is considered. Certain aspects of particular interest in the case of the potential organ donor with brain death will be emphasized.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Transplantation and Hepatic Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Michael A. Nalesnik M.D.

  2. Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Ron Shapiro M.D.

  3. Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Michael G. Ison M.D., M.S.

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  1. Michael A. Nalesnik M.D.
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  2. Ron Shapiro M.D.
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  3. Michael G. Ison M.D., M.S.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael A. Nalesnik M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tampa VA Medical Center, Surgery, University of South Florida, Bruce B. Downs Blvd 12901, Tampa, 33612, Florida, USA

    Dimitri Novitzky

  2. Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institu, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Lothrop Street 200, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    David K C Cooper

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Nalesnik, M.A., Shapiro, R., Ison, M.G. (2013). Malignancy in the Brain-Dead Organ Donor. In: Novitzky, D., Cooper, D. (eds) The Brain-Dead Organ Donor. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4304-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4304-9_15

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