Gwen Hilton

Effects of the injection of colloidal 198gold in malignant effusions.

Summary 1. One hundred and nine patients have been treated by intracavitary injection of colloidal radioactive gold, 100 for malignant effusion and 9 prophylactically. A simple technique is described. 2. A marked or severe reaction lasting more than a few hours was only seen in 6 out of the 48 patients observed in our wards. No serious complication occurred in any patients. 3. Investigation of aspirated fluid showed that up to 60 per cent of the injected gold could be recovered from a pleural cavity, and up to 20 per cent from the peritoneal cavity at 2 or more weeks after the injection. Much of this activity may be in floating cells. 4. Measurements showed that at 5 days after the injection not more than 10 per cent of the dose might be in the liver and 0.2 per cent per litre in the plasma, while only 0.04 per cent was excreted per day in the urine. All these three concentrations increased steadily during observation. Occasional excretion of up to 2 per cent in one day was noted in the sputum. 5. A good palliative result was obtained in 40 out of 94 patients treated for malignant effusions.

Radiographic Appearances of " Preclinical " Tuberculosis.

Summary (1) The history of three cases showing abnormal pulmonary lung shadows is given. (2) Their radiographic evolution is followed and described. (3) The opinion is expressed that if such abnormal shadows are observed, even during health, they should be followed radiographically at monthly intervals. If . they persist for three months, or advance under observation, the subject should be regarded as having ‘preclinical’ tuberculosis and treated accordingly.