Phenacetin-induced sulfhemoglobinemia: report of a case and review of the literature.

Phenacetin-induced sulfhemoglobinemia was diagnosed in a middle-aged woman with a 6-month history of cyanosis and a 10-year history of ingestion of analgesics. The laboratory and clincial diagnosis of sulfhemoglobinemia and methemoglobinemia are discussed. The reviewed medical literature suggests that the cyanosis of chronic phenacetin or acetanilid use is generally due to sulfhemoglobinemia rather than methemoglobinemia.