Whole-body pathologic analysis of a patient with Thorotrast-induced myelodysplasia.
An autopsy was performed on a 72-y-old Caucasian female who had received a carotid artery injection of thorium dioxide in 1953. The body was dissected in such a manner as to provide for radiobiological evaluation as well as to determine histologically the distribution of Thorotrast in the tissues and its complications. Thorotrast was identified within the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and surrounding the right carotid artery (the injection site). The cause of death was gastric hemorrhage complicating pancytopenia secondary to refractory anemia with excess of blasts (myelodysplastic syndrome).
Graham
S J
SJ
Department of Pathology, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814-5000.
Heaton
R B
RB
Garvin
D F
DF
Cotelingam
J D
JD
D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D013911:Thorium Dioxide