A case of polymyositis associated with adrenal carcinoma

Abstract

The association between idiopathic inflammatory myositis and cancer is well recognized. Most descriptions have been of dermatomyositis-associated cancer, however, a few have been of polymyositis-associated adrenal cancer. Here, we report a 69-year-old man in whom polymyositis-associated adrenal cancer was diagnosed. The patient complained of difficulty with walking and with standing unassisted. Physical examination and electrophysiological studies revealed an abnormality of the proximal muscles. Serum levels of creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase were increased. Imaging studies showed a solid tumor measuring 14 x 9 cm in the retroperitoneum. After surgical excision of the tumor, including the left kidney, the serum levels of creatine kinase and lactic dehydrogenase normalized, and symptoms of myositis disappeared.

Malignancies associated with dermatomyositis and polymyositis in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study

“…[17][18][19][20][21] Similarly, cases of myositis-associated renal or adrenal carcinomas have occasionally been reported. 22,23 In contrast to the reports in caucasians, the association of ovarian cancer in DM was not remarkable in our study. In fact, the case number of DM ⁄PM with comorbid ovarian cancer was relatively small as the incidence of ovarian cancer in Taiwan is low.…”

“…Cancer of the urinary bladder, mostly transitional cell carcinoma, has been reported to be associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome with PM 4 and inclusion body myositis, 16 and rarely with DM 17–21 . Similarly, cases of myositis‐associated renal or adrenal carcinomas have occasionally been reported 22,23 . In contrast to the reports in caucasians, the association of ovarian cancer in DM was not remarkable in our study.…”

Cancer risks of dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan

“…In contrast to the most commonly associated cancers, such as those of the lungs and ovaries, as well as lymphoma and leukemia, cases of myositis associated with renal or adrenal carcinomas have rarely been reported [21-24]. Symptoms and laboratory abnormalities of DM or PM have been reported to be alleviated after surgical intervention for renal cancers [21,22]. In addition, there are rare occurrences of chondrosarcoma [25], osteosarcoma [26] and thyroid cancers [27,28] in DM; yet the relationship between these diseases and DM remains unclear.…”

Treatment consensus for management of polymyositis and dermatomyositis among rheumatologists, neurologists and dermatologists

“…described that the serum levels of CK and LDH decreased significantly a month after treatments of the associated malignancy (evidence level V). Furthermore, several cases went into remission of myositis only by the treatments of malignancy, which did not include GC administration (evidence level V) …”