Chromic colloidal phosphate labeled with 32P, which has been proposed for the treatment of several articular diseases, was injected intra-articularly in the knee joint of adult Wistar rats. After a 270 days minimum latent period, tumors began to appear in the injected zone, to a 70% frequency. Ten lung metastases were detected. In five cases, squamous cell carcinomas were induced in the injected area. The relevance of a sound evaluation of the risk involved in treatments with radioactive isotopes, is discussed.