Fever in cancer patients as a cause of attendance in emergency room

e20706 Background: Normal human body temperature displays a circadian rhythm, ranging from 36.1 C or lower in predawn hours to 37.4 C or higher in the afternoon. Abnormal elevation of temperature occurs as a result of hyperthermia or fever. Cancer patients frequently experience fever. Nearly two-thirds of the cases of fever in patients with prolonged neutropenia could be attributed to infection, a major cause of morbidity in cancer patients. Purpose: The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of cancer patients who were attended in the emergency room for fever, the diagnosis and clinical management. Methods: From October 2007 to October 2008, 560 cancer patients were seen in the emergency department of the University Hospital of Zaragoza. The purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics of patients who presented with fever. Results: A total of 560 patients were seen. Ninety-eight (17.5%) presented with fever. 63% of patients were stage IV. Cancer tumor type, 35 had lung cancer (35.7%),...