Development of skin squamous cell carcinoma on the scalp in a hydroxycarbamide-treated polycythemia vera patient

Abstract

Hydroxycarbamide is a widely used cytoreductive agent for treating polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Although hydroxycarbamide is usually well tolerated by most patients for long periods, some patients experience mucosal or cutaneous adverse events. Furthermore, a series of case report have indicated an association of hydroxycarbamide use with the development of non-melanoma skin cancer, especially in western countries. Here, we present the case of an elderly Japanese polycythemia vera patient who developed squamous cell carcinoma of the skin on the scalp after 10 years of exposure to hydroxyurea.