Factors influencing organ placement efforts in donors with brain tumors

A 3-year retrospective review of brain tumor cases was performed to determine factors that influence organ procurement in light of the increase in references in transplant literature to the hazards of transplanting organs from donors with brain tumors. A 3-year review of cases in which organ procurement efforts occurred were evaluated. Of 314 cases resulting from this review, organ procurement efforts yielded 10 patients with a diagnosis of brain tumor. Of those 10 cases, seven progressed to organ donation, with at least one organ per patient recovered. Manipulation of brain tumors or manipulation along with tissue diagnosis does not seem to hinder procurement of organs. Without tissue diagnosis, the ability of the organ procurement organization to place organs decreases significantly.