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Studies of Thorium X Applied to Human Skin

1951; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/jid.1951.100

1523-1747

Victor H. Witten, Milton S. Ross, Eleanor Oshry, Arthur Hyman, Vera Holmstrom,

Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques

Thorium X is a radioactive substance which has been used in dermatology for almost 40 years. Since the report of Nageli and Jessner (1) on the dermatologic uses of thorium X, numerous publications have appeared concerning its therapeutic effectiveness and freedom from dangerous sequeiae (2). In the past, investigators have been able to study the effects of thorium X on human skin by clinical response and histopathologic changes; only a few speculations have been made concerning the mechanism of its action. A basic problem which has remained unsolved is whether the thorium X is confined to the surface or penetrates the skin in any way. With modern improved technics of studying radioactivity, it is possible to undertake investigations on the routes and degree of penetration and sites of deposition of thorium X. The established usefulness as well as the promise of future usefulness of thorium X in treating numerous dermatoses, skin cancers, and pre-canceroses makes it highly desirable and indeed necessary that information be obtained relative to the mechanism of its biologic effect on human skin.