Thorotrast-induced oro- and hypopharyngeal fibrosis with recurrent bleeding.
Thorium dioxide, widely used as a contrast material, is a producer of alpha particle radiation. This is well demonstrated by autoradiography. The case described illustrates that life-threatening, thorium dioxide-induced pharyngeal haemorrhage may occur even with an occluded carotid artery. The radiation exposure caused an intense foreign body reaction with a marked cell-deficient fibrosis. The alpha particles are well demonstrated by autoradiography. In addition, we were able to show a defect in the wall of the carotid artery due to the Thorotrast injection, which was closed by cell-depleted connective tissue. As the radioactivity of the nuclides of thorium dioxide peaks 30-40 years after its first application, the morbidity will increase and the disease has to be taken into careful consideration in head and neck tumour lesions.
Wustrow
T P
TP
Dept. of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, W. Germany.
Behbehani
A A
AA
Wiebecke
B
B
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000139:chemically induced; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007013:Hypopharynx / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000187:drug effects*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013911:Thorium Dioxide