A worker with 20 years of occupational exposure in a polyvinyl chloride manufacturing plant develops a vascular malignancy. Which neoplasm is characteristically associated with vinyl chloride exposure?
- A Hepatocellular carcinoma
- B Cholangiocarcinoma
- C Hepatic adenoma
- D Angiosarcoma of the liver ✓
Explanation
Vinyl chloride is an established human carcinogen causally linked to hepatic angiosarcoma, a malignant neoplasm of endothelial origin with a long latency period. Thorotrast and arsenic are the other classic associations with hepatic angiosarcoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma (option A) is linked instead to aflatoxin, hepatitis B and D, alcohol, and hemochromatosis, making it the strongest distractor since both arise in the liver but differ entirely in cell of origin.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
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