[Hepatocellular carcinoma after exposure to vinyl chloride]

Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed already during life in a 54-year-old workman who had been exposed to high concentration of vinyl chloride due to his occupation for more than twenty years. In addition, typical early changes as seen in experimental vinyl chloride induced angiosarcoma were observed. In recent years permissible room air concentration of vinyl chloride at work have been lowered drastically. However, due to the long latency occurrence of malignant liver tumours may still be expected in persons exposed formerly. Within the search programme for such patients at risk ultrasonography and computed tomography as non-invasive methods with high accuracy are advisable.