Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B W Duck.
Age-standardised mortality-rates for a population of 2100 male workers exposed to vinyl chloride for periods of up to 27 years do not show any excess of total or cause-specific mortality. 1 case of angiosarcoma of the liver was identified just outside the study period. There was no suggestion of an increased frequency of deaths from the more common malignant diseases.
Industrial exposure to several potentially hepatotoxic agents, such as vinyl-chloride monomer may occur, and there is a need for non-vasive, diagnostic techniques to detect and monitor progressive pathological processes in liver or spleen. Grey-scale ultrasonography permits display of detailed anatomy and pathology in the liver, portal veins, and spleen. The combination of fine resolution, non-invasiveness, absence of ionising radiation hazard, and portable equipment makes the technique ideal for screening populations at risk.