The
preoptic area and
anterior hypothalamus plays a pivotal
role in
body temperature regulation, and damage in this region causes
hyperthermia. This
hyperthermia is particularly troublesome because of the possibility that it may reflect an occult infectious process. We
report a case of
fever of unknown origin in a
patient after removal of
neoplasm involving the
hypothalamus. A 29-year old man underwent
craniotomy and removal of hypothalamic
choroid meningioma. Seventy days after the removal of his
tumor, his
body temperature began to rise. But, there was no evidence of
infection, inflammatory
disease, metabolic disease,
drug fever and recurred
tumor. Repeated
administration of
antipyretic agent did not reduce
body temperature. So, we considered that the elevated
temperature had a central basis. The
patient was treated with
chlorpromazine in an attempt to lower his
temperature. This
drug reduced successfully his
body temperature.