Atypia of hepatic histiocytes induced by Renografin-60

Recurrent bouts of abdominal pain in a 12-year-old patient were diagnosed as due to intermittent obstruction of the choledochus. The condition was corrected by choledochostomy. Incidental liver biopsy showed atypia of intrahepatic histiocytes. However, electron microscopy identified associated foreign bodies suspected of being an iodinated compound. Six months later a repeat liver biopsy and extensive search showed no carcinoma present. The hepatic atypia was thought to have been induced by diatrizoate meglumine/diatrizoate sodium (Renografin-60), an iodinated compound (E. R. Squibb, Princeton, NJ, U.S.A.) used during percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.