2017 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 39-43
Hydroxyurea (HU) is an anti-metabolic agent used in the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders. Recently, there have been many reports of various cutaneous adverse effects due to HU. An 80-year-old woman with a history of essential thrombocythemia (ET) had been treated with HU for 5 years. She presented with recalcitrant leg ulcers, erythema, and erosions on the hands. The ulcer on the heel appeared 3 years and 8 months after the initiation of HU administration and a red nodule developed 1 year and 4 months later. She also had an ulcer on her Achilles tendon. A biopsy from the heel and Achilles tendon showed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Bowen's disease, respectively. She underwent excision with skin graft. Both resected lesions revealed SCC. Both the skin ulcers and SCCs were considered to be associated with HU treatment. The dose of HU was gradually reduced and anagrelide acid (AGA) was started. No recurrence was observed for 1 year and 4 months after the surgery.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2017 ; 32 : 39-43]
