[Clinical picture and pathology of the so-called vinyl chloride disease]

About 26 years ago symptoms of liver and spleen were described for the first time by Tribukh et al. in laborers exposed to vinyl chloride. Besides these symptoms sclerodermia, acroosteolysis and Raynaud's phaenomenon are known to be typical for the VC disease. Rather high concentrations of VC seem to be necessary to cause this disease. After cessation of exposure the symptoms may improve partly. Haemangiosarcoma of the liver may occur as the most serious effect of prolonged exposure to vinyl chloride. Presently 48 cases induced by VC exposure are observed all over the world. Diagnosis is difficult, the prognosis of this cancer is practically always fatal. The improvement of working places by the chemical industries should further reduce the risk of acquiring VC disease as well as haemangioma of the liver due to VC exposure.