Use of radioactive chromic phosphate in pleural effusions.

Radioactive chromic phosphate was chosen in place of radioactive gold for control of pleural effusions and ascites. The chromic phosphate has no gamma radiation to complicate the health physics. Its 14.3 day half-life in contrast to that of 2.69 days for gold makes possible the use of much smaller total dosages. There were no untoward results from the use of this material. The results in the series here reported upon compare favorably with those reported for gold(198).