[Late manifestations in former mustard gas workers with special reference to cutaneous findings]

We report on late cutaneous manifestations following exposition to gas (in particular N- and S-LOST) which had not been observed until within the last years. In the years 1945 to 1951, inadequate protective measures during disbandment of the "Heeresmunitionsanstalt St. Georgen" caused contamination and inhalation of these radiomimetics in about 400 persons. Apart from the still today little known pulmonal and cardiac late manifestations, the surviving persons now suffer from multiple skin tumors, such as basal cell carcinomas, Bowen's disease, Bowen's carcinoma and carcinoma spinocellulare even in unexposed parts of the skin. Moreover, there are observed spontaneous flat and partly necrotic, gangrenously imposing, very painful ulcerations with tendency to spread, which keep unaffected by all therapeutic measures. The findings have been documented historically, macroscopically, histologically as well as cytologically. Presentation of these late sequele is of particular importance since at that time containers with mustard gas had been unloaded anywhere in the FRG without any special precautions, so that also contamination of citizens has to be assumed. For this reason, similar findings are to be expected throughout the country, accumulated in certain regions. This additional aspect has also to be considered concerning the application of these radiomimetics therapy of psoriasis ("Russian ointment").