title: [Unexpected diagnosis of thorotrast-induced cirrhosis].
abstract: It is presented the clinical case of a 73 year old man admitted to hospital with dyspnea and productive cough. Clinico-instrumental investigations demonstrated monolateral pleural effusion and ascites in a severe cirrhotic chronic liver failure. After evacuation of the pleural and peritoneal effusion, chest radiography showed the presence of a double accumulation of radiopaque material in left cervical region and in left paramediastinic site. Chest and abdominal CT scan showed a systemic accumulation of this material in liver, spleen and glands. The characteristics of the iperreflecting substance accumulated were compatible with that of Thorotrast. In the mean time, a prostate cancer with skeletal metastases was diagnosed. Despite therapy, the chronic liver failure causes a rapid deterioration of clinical conditions, with irreversible hepatic coma and death.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Geriatria, Dipartimento di Discipline Medico-chirurgiche, Università, Torino.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grassone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D013911:Thorium Dioxide
vernacular_title: Una inattesa diagnosi di cirrosi da Thorotrast.