Potential organ donors with primary brain tumours: missed opportunities for donation and transplantation identified in Australian cohort study 2010–2015

BACKGROUND: Potential organ donors with primary brain tumours (PBT) frequently donate, however some may be declined due to uncertainty about tumour classification or transmission risk to transplant recipients. We sought to describe transmission risk and donation outcome of potential donors with PBT, including identifying missed opportunities for transplantation, and any PBT transmission events. METHODS: We undertook a population‐based cohort study in NSW of all potential donors 2010–2015. PBT potential donors were characterized according to tumour grade and transmission risk, and whether they donated organs. Data linkage was used to determine agreement of risk assessment of potential donors to that in the Biovigilance Register, and to identify any PBT transmissions. RESULTS: Of 2957 potential donors, 76 (3%) had PBTs. There was agreement of risk assessment in 44 (58%) cases. PBT potential donors had fewer comorbidities (1.6 vs. 2.1, P = 0.006) than non‐PBT potential donors. Forty‐eight (63%) potential donors were declined for non‐PBT reasons, 18 (24%) were declined because of perceived PBT transmission risk and 10 (13%) donated. All PBT donors had WHO‐I or ‐II tumours, and none had a ventriculo‐pertioneal shunt. No transmission events occurred. CONCLUSION: Donors with WHO‐I/II PBT appear to have minimal risk of tumour transmission in solid organ transplantation; it is reassuring that no PBT transmission occurred. There is evidence of risk aversion to referrals with WHO‐III/IV tumours. There exists opportunity to improve potential donor risk assessment at the time of referral using integrated data sets, and to increase organ donation and transplantation rates through greater utilization of PBT referrals.