JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Obligatory

1. Must not donate if:
a) Still receiving treatment.


b) Any wound has not healed.

 

2. Eyes.
Must not donate if: 

From an eye with active Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) of the eyelid, unhealed wounds or corneal involvement e.g., exposure keratitis.

 

3. Skin.
Must not donate:

From the area affected by the lesion.

Discretionary

Eyes.


Unhealed wounds not affecting the eye, if cornea is to be stored by organ culture, accept. See additional information.

See if Relevant

Malignancy
Eye Disease

Additional Information

Although basal cell carcinoma is a form of cancer it only spreads locally. As it does not spread by the blood stream, it is not a risk to people receiving donated material.

 

An unhealed wound is a risk for bacteria entering the blood. Bacteria can be a serious threat to anybody receiving donated material. This is because the bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels during storage.

 

Exclusion of donors with unhealed wounds not affecting the eyes does not apply to corneas stored by organ culture as this gives an opportunity to detect infection, but does apply to corneas stored at 4°C.

 

Donors with healed BCC of the eyelids can be accepted for eye donation, unless ocular tissue might be affected by the effects of treatment. Treatment records should be reviewed, esp. in relation to the effects of treatment e.g., radiotherapy, and eyes must undergo slit lamp examination in the eye bank.

Reason for Change

To add guidance regarding donors with basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in
TDSG-DD Edition 203, Release 52