title: Incidental hyperdensities within the reticuloendothelial system.
abstract: This is a case report of a 79-year-old woman who was found to have numerous hyperdense nodular lesions in the upper abdomen, which were incidentally discovered during routine follow-up of a lung nodule. These hyperdense lesions included a lace-like reticular distribution within the liver, multiple extremely dense lymph nodes, and a shrunken hyperdense spleen. We discuss differential considerations for such a constellation of findings and explain why we believe the findings in this case are consistent with prior thorium dioxide exposure. We conclude with a discussion of the pathophysiology and important complications of thorium dioxide exposure and the best imaging modalities for its detection. We believe that this is an important entity that all physicians should be aware of because even though it is seldom seen today, it has characteristic imaging findings and the correct diagnosis is critical given the increased risk of malignancy for which such patients should be screened for.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8042, USA. smbat.amirbekian@yale.edu.
authors: Smbat
authors: S
authors: Amirbekian
authors: Saad M
authors: SM
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Myung Soo
authors: MS
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013911:Thorium Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D013911:Thorium Dioxide