Hydroxyurea-induced fever in cervical carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.

This is a case presentation of a rarely seen hydroxyurea-induced fever in a patient with cervical adenocarcinoma receiving oral hydroxyurea given concurrently with external beam radiotherapy to the pelvis. In the fourth week of treatment, the patient developed recurrent febrile episodes, with no obvious etiology. Eventually, hydroxyurea was discontinued with no further recurrence of fever. A review of the medical literature on fever induced by hydroxyurea suggests a mechanism of delayed hypersensitivity. Since hydroxyurea is an often-used chemotherapeutic drug for various malignancies, clinical oncologists need to be aware of this unusual side effect. The diagnosis is by clinical exclusion and by the recurrent pattern of fever on rechallenge of the drug.