Angiosarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in vinyl chloride workers

Abstract

The livers from five vinyl chloride workers are described. They show angioformative and hepatocellular growth disturbance in varying proportions: angiosarcoma in four cases, liver cell hyperplasia in all, hyperplastic nodules in three cases and hepatocellular carcinoma in two cases. In one case the transition between hyperplastic nodule and hepatocellular carcinoma is demonstrated. The relationship between these changes and vinyl chloride exposure is discussed, with evidence that they are causally related.