Investigations into human thorotrastosis. Tissue concentrations of 232-Th and late effects in 13 autopsy cases

• Published in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 1976-06, Vol.371 (2), p.131-143
• Main Authors: Wegener, K, Wesch, H, Kampmann, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Female; Hemangioendothelioma - etiology; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Mononuclear Phagocyte System - analysis; Mononuclear Phagocyte System - radiation effects; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Thorium Dioxide - adverse effects; Thorium Dioxide - analysis
• ISSN: 0340-1227; 0945-6317; 1432-2307
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00444929

The subjects of investigation were 13 dead thorotrast patients, 10 male, 3 female, with ages ranging from 45 to 79 years. Two thousand organ and tissue specimens were investigated by means of autopsy and by both microscopic-autoradiographic and neutron activation analysis in order to detect late effects and to determine on approximate mean concentration of 232Th (mg per g of tissue). A comparison between late effects and concentrations of the dye medium led to the following conclusions: 1. 232Th is, after intravascular injection, deposited in all organs and tissues of the human body. 2. The highest mean concentrations are shown in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. 3. The distribution of 232Th is inhomogeneous in all organs and tissues. The variations of maximum and minimum concentration lie around factor 2.2 X 10(0)-2.4 X 10(5). 4. Late effects occur only in spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, but not in organs and tissues that show a mean concentration of 232Th under 10(-1) mg per g tissue. 5. It is highly probable that tumors of thorotrast patients in organs other than spleen, liver lymph nodes, and bone marrow are not caused by deposition of 232Th or ThO2.