Prostate Specific Antigen-Positive Deceased Organ Donor: A Pathologist Is Indispensable.

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic projections, and lack of an algorithm in the case of a prostate specific antigen (PSA)-positive donor, the loss of organ recovery may occur more frequently in the near future without approved procedures. In Poland in recent years it has been recommended to determine tumor markers in potential donors. In the first year of the recommendation 10% of potential deceased donors were disqualified in our transplantation center on the basis of the elevated PSA levels (high PSA >10 ng/mL). Histopathologic evaluation of prostate was implemented in a donor qualification procedure to prevent reduction of the actual organ donor pool.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period of January 2010-January 2014 each donor reported to a coordination center (n = 52; median age, 54 years) and underwent the routine histological evaluation of the whole prostate, regardless of the PSA level.

RESULTS: Pathologist revealed in the study group of 52 male donors, 6 cases of carcinoma of the prostate (CaP; 12%). There was no correlation between PSA level and CaP (-)/CaP(+) (median 7.0 vs 3.9 ng/mL, respectively; P = .51) nor high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) (+)/HGPIN (-) (median 5.9 vs 4.3 ng/mL; P = .14). All of the recovered organs (12 kidneys and 3 livers) from donors with CaP were transplanted, resulting in a 15% increase in the organ donor pool.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between PSA values and CaP occurrence in deceased organ donors. Histological verification allowed for an increase in the organ pool with maintenance of safety standards.