Open AccessDonor transmitted anaplastic carcinoma in a kidney‐transplant recipient
Author(s) -
Krapp Jan D.,
Brauer Robert B.,
Matevossian Eduard,
Gerauer Klaus E.,
Thorban Stefan,
Becker Karin,
Stangl Manfred J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2005.00178.x
Subject(s) - medicine , biopsy , kidney , organ donation , kidney transplantation , metastasis , transplantation , carcinoma , anaplastic carcinoma , kidney cancer , kidney disease , surgery , cancer
Summary With the more frequent use of organs from elderly donors, the risk of transmitting tumor cells to the recipient increases. We report a case in which anaplastic carcinoma tumor cells from an organ‐donor were transmitted to a kidney transplantation recipient. The donor's metastatic disease was discovered 7 days after harvest of the kidney following a brain biopsy undertaken at admission of the donor. The risk of transmitting the disease was generally estimated as so small that the excellently functioning kidney was not removed. Twelve weeks later, however, malignant cells were found in a biopsy of the transplanted kidney. The organ was removed immediately, but the intraoperative situs showed advanced disease with lymph‐node‐metastasis. Twelve months later no tumor progress could be detected. This case shows that there is considerable risk of transmitting formerly undetected cancer in elderly donors. Autopsies of donors who are older than 60 years of age should be routinely performed after organ donation.