neoarsphenamine and Hemoperitoneum

Hepatic angiosarcoma is an infrequent neoplasm representing 1-3% of all the primary liver cancers. One fourth of the cases have demonstrated a relation with chemical carcinogens with the most frequent being thorium dioxide (thorotrast) and vinyl chloride. The case of an hepatic angiosarcoma which presented as an intraperitoneal hemorrhage in a patient who had undergone treatment with Neosalvarsán (dioxidiaminoarsenobenzol) 46 years beforehand is reported. The previous published reports include 6 cases of hepatic angiosarcoma related with treatment with arsenic salts and 4 cases in whom exposure was environmental.

Topics: Arsenicals; Arsphenamine; Biopsy; Fatal Outcome; Hemangiosarcoma; Hemoperitoneum; Humans; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Shock; Syphilis; Time Factors