Related Experiment Videos
Hemangioendothelial sarcoma of the liver after thorotrast injection
Insights
Thorotrast (Th-232) injection led to liver hemangioendothelial sarcoma 33 years later in an autopsy case. This rare cancer developed after significant radiation exposure from the contrast agent.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary pathology
- Radiological oncology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Thorotrast, a radioactive contrast agent, was used for diagnostic imaging.
- Long-term complications, including malignancy, are a concern following Thorotrast administration.
Observation:
- Autopsy revealed liver hemangioendothelial sarcoma and capillary hemangiomas in a patient 33 years post-Thorotrast injection.
- Histological examination confirmed extensive accumulation of Thorotrast material in liver and other organs.
- The patient presented with abdominal swelling and jaundice, succumbing to hepatic failure.
Findings:
- The absorbed radiation dose to the liver was calculated to be approximately 2,597 rads over 33 years.
- Autoradiography and Th-232 activity measurements confirmed the presence of Thorotrast.
- A direct correlation between Thorotrast exposure, radiation dose, and the development of liver sarcoma was established.
Implications:
- This case highlights the significant long-term oncogenic risk associated with Thorotrast.
- It underscores the importance of considering historical contrast agent use in diagnosing rare hepatic malignancies.
- Further research into Thorotrast-induced carcinogenesis and monitoring protocols is warranted.
Abstract:
An autopsy case of hemangioendothelial sarcoma of the liver which occurred 33 years after the injection of thorotrast was reported. A fifty-nine years old male with complaint of abdominal swelling and progressive jaundice died of hepatic failure and hemorrhage from gastric ulcer after 10 days of medical treatment in the Kumamoto University Hospital. Autopsy revealed hemangioendothelial sarcoma and multiple capillary hemangiomas in the liver. Histologically, a yellowish brown crystalline substance was intensively accumulated in the connective tissue in and adjacent to the thickened capsule of the liver, the lymph nodes of hepatic hilus, the spleen, the bone and the bone marrow. The material was certified as thorotrast with the Th-232 activity measurement and the autoradiographical examination. The absorbed dose of irradiation of the local liver tissue was calculated to be approximately 2,597 rads in 33 years. The relation among capillary hemangioma, hemangioendothelial sarcoma, and thorotrast was discussed.