Dermatomyositis in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare inflammatory autoimmune disease of the muscle and skin characterized primarily by proximal myopathy and various cutaneous signs, with multi-systemic manifestations. The hallmark cutaneous changes are confluent macular violaceous erythema and edema in characteristic anatomic locations including eyelids (heliotrope rash), posterior neck, shoulder girdle and upper arm (shawl sign), extensor elbow, knee, and knuckles (Gottron′s sign).Proximal muscle weakness is also a common manifestation of the disorder.Dermatomyositis can occur as manifestation of internal malignancy.This case report is that of a 53 year old man with Dermatomyositis and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.