Splenic changes revealed by autopsy in patients with Thorotrast deposition with particular reference to the portal hypertension

Most of the cases of Thorotrast deposition resemble those of Banti's disease (idiopathic portal hypertension) in histological findings of the liver at autopsy, but the esophageal varices are less frequent than anticipated. We examined 211 patients with Thorotrast deposition clinicopathologically by grouping them according to their spleen weights. In a small number of patients splenomegaly (200 g or more) was highly complicated by esophageal variceal bleeding. Moreover, the average life span of these patients was approximately 10 years shorter than that of patients with splenic atrophy. A possibility exists that the splenic atrophy following Thorotrast deposition is not all pathological process but brings a benefit to decrease the portal pressure as splenectomy does. (author)