Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hematomas as a source of fever have been well recognized. We describe a patient with polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) who developed a fever of unknown origin following an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series. Workup revealed a hemorrhagic cyst of a kidney at the level of the duodenum, where a paddle had been used during the upper GI series to compress the duodenum. Evaluation for the presence of infection, including blood and urine cultures, yielded negative results. This case indicates the importance of including hemorrhagic cysts in the differential diagnosis of fever in a patient with PCKD, particularly with a history of trauma. It is likely that fever develops due to the release of interleukin-1 by the hemorrhagic cyst.