A case of double cancer of the liver (hepatoma and cholangioma) caused by accumulation of thorotrast

Fairly many cases of delayed disorders caused by thorotrast have been reported. The authors experienced a case of 65 year old male who had received an infusion of thorotrast solution at the old army hospital 38 years ago and died for liver cirrhosis and hepatic cancer (double cancer of hepatoma and cholangiocarcinoma). By the biopsy after his death, alpha ray was proved in granules of foreign body in hepatic tissues, and in corporation with its contrast, it was certified that a chain of abnormal shadows mainly seen in the liver and the spleen, on the scout film of the abdomen before death, was caused by thorotrast. From pathological findings in hepatic cancers, hepatoma was recognized in the right lobe and cholangioma, in the left lobe, and there was no pathological relationship between two cancers. Namely, it was double cancer within the same organ. Case of double cancer in the liver such as this case was thought to be very rare in Japan, and a few literature considerations were also reported. (Tsunoda, M.)