A case immunologically disturbed by thorotrast-induced hepatoma

Abstract

A case, 57 years old man, with thorotrast-induced hepatocellular carcinoma was reported. Thorium deposits in the reticuloendothelial tissues have the hazardous radiation effects on those tissues fbrever.
In this case, the mean thorium amount in the spleen was 28.4% and the mean activity ratio of Ac-228 to Th-232 was 0.948. These values were much different from thoge reported by Kato in 1968.
The ratio of T-cell to T.B. population decreased and PPD and PHA intradermal skin test were negative. Plasma cells in bone marrow increased and IgG was 4g/dl. In these immulogical studies it was supposed that T-cell function was impaired and B-cell function, especially IgG fraction was stimulated.