Hydroquinone, a benzene metabolite, and leukemia: a case report and review of the literature.

Hydroquinone is a phenolic metabolite of benzene, a known human carcinogen. Hydroquinone is widely used in the industry. We report a case of a 43-year-old male diagnosed with antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia following 16 years of occupational exposure to hydroquinone in radiographic developer solution.

Occupational kidney cancer: exposure to industrial solvents.

We report seven cases of renal cell carcinoma in workers diagnosed with occupational exposure via skin contact and inhalation to industrial solvents containing benzene. The clinical significance of these cases are: (a) all seven patients diagnosed with kidney cancer were seen by private physicians who missed addressing occupational history to industrial solvents; (b) emphasize the importance of taking an in-depth history including occupational history in any patient presented to the clinician, especially like in these cases, kidney cancer; and (c) demonstrate the importance of educating workers. We believe that there exist more patients with renal cancer whose diagnosis has been rendered "idiopathic" due to the lack of detailed occupational, environmental, personal, and family history.

Systemic vasculitis and prior recent exposure to organic solvents: report of two cases.

The authors describe two patients with systemic vasculitis and prior occupational exposure to organic solvents. Systemic vasculitis should be considered a sentinel event for such exposures.