More liver cancer patients getting transplants

[Guest guest]

In early 2002, a new donor organ allocation system gave

priority for liver transplants to people with early liver cancer. It led to a six-fold increase in the proportion of liver

transplant recipients with liver cancer, research shows.

The

allocation system is dubbed MELD, for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). According to data from the United Network for Organ

Sharing, during the 5 years

immediately before adoption of the MELD prioritizing system, 4.6 percent of

liver transplant recipients had liver cancer, compared with 26 percent in the 5

years immediately after adoption of MELD.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_65950.html

Barb in Texas - Together in the Fight.... Whatever it

Takes!