[Osteomyelofibrosis syndrome 33 years after thorotrast angiography]

33 years after carotid arteriography with thorotrast a 69-year-old patient died from osteomyelofibrosis with severe hematopoietic hypoplasia and myeloid metaplasia detected in liver, lymph nodes, kidney and epicardium. Twenty years before death he underwent "prophylactic" splenectomy; histologically the spleen merely showed hypoplasia, fibrosis and deposits of thorotrast. It is assumed that the osteomyelofibrosis syndrome is a specific complication of thorotrast application which has only rarely been described in the past. This suggestion is supported by observations suggesting that osteomyelofibrosis syndrome may be induced by radiation and by the fact that thorotrast gives rise to foreign body reactions associated with subsequent severe fibrosis. The development of myeloid metaplasia is assumed to be secondary to chronic hematopoietic insufficiency.