[Vinyl chloride-induced angiosarcoma and hepato-cellular carcinoma of the liver (author's transl)]. / Das vinylchloridinduzierte Leberangiosarkom und hepatozelluläre Karzinom.

Three patients with industrial exposure to PVC are described, who developed angio-sarcomas of the liver; in one patient this was combined with a multi-lobular primary hepato-cellular carcinoma. The epidemiology, clinical features and diagnosis are discussed, with particular reference to angiography, sonography and computerized tomography. The non-invasive methods, such as computerized tomography and sonography, are the techniques of choice if an angiosarcoma is suspected after long exposure to PVC.

[Sequential scintigraphy of liver and spleen in patients with polyvinyl chloride disease (author's transl)]. / Sequenzszintigraphische Untersuchungen von Leber und Milz bei Patienten mit Vinychlorid-Krankheit

Occurence of severe liver damage including angiosarcoma in polyvinyl chloride production workers necessitates regular control investigations of liver and spleen. Radioisotope techniques with small irradiation doses which give valid results should be used. Investigations of 15 patients with PVC-induced liver disease showed that hepatic perfusion as demonstrated by 99mTc pertechnate does not correlate with the uptake of sulphide colloid in the hepatic reticuloendothelial system. This provides evidence that in VC disease specific damage of the reticuloendothelial system of the liver occurs. Sequential scintigraphy also proved that the liver perfusion quotient can be considered as a measure of portal pressure. In practice this may be used for follow-up controls. Vascularized tumours described in VC disease can also be demonstrated by scintigraphy.