A recent study in Australia found the availability of kidneys for transplantation could be increased by using kidneys removed for small, incidentally discovered tumors. The use of marginal kidneys from deceased donors is one strategy to help solve the organ shortage crisis.
 
The study transplanted kidneys with these small tumors in older patients and found many of the transplants were successful. All participants had a functioning kidney for at least 32 months after transplantation.

This article originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.