Korean J Dermatol.  2008 Aug;46(8):1069-1074.

Two Cases of Dermatomyositis Associated with Malignant Tumor

• Kang MC
• Park YD
• Lee KS
• Chung SL

Abstract

Dematomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by specific skin manifestations and progressive symmetric proximal muscle weakness. Importantly, dermatomyositis is occasionally associated with the internal malignant tumor, which is clearly correlated with poor prognosis. We report two cases of dermatomyositis, showing characteristic skin lesions, that associated with small cell lung cancer in a 64-year old man and gallbladder cancer in a 54-year old man, respectively. On laboratory findings muscle enzymes and liver function markers were elevated prominently. We tried to treat these patients with systemic corticosteroid and chemotherapy. The patient with small cell lung cancer died of SAH due to head trauma and in the case of the patient with gallbladder cancer, the symptoms of the muscle weakness and the skin lesions are getting better and worse repeatedly fluctuating and regular periodic follow up is required.

Keyword

Dermatomyositis; Gallbladder cancer; Small cell lung cancer

MeSH Terms

Craniocerebral Trauma
Dermatomyositis
Follow-Up Studies
Gallbladder Neoplasms
Humans
Liver
Muscle Weakness
Muscles
Myositis
Prognosis
Skin
Skin Manifestations
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma