Dermatomyositis

Scleroderma and Carcinoma of Uterus

“…Scleroderma may also develop as either an initial or a late manifestation, as in our patient, who had carcinoma of the cervix treated 3½ years before the sclerodermatous changes were noted. In a review of 125 cases with systemic sclerosis and 235 cases with localised scleroderma, 5 8 and 4 cases respectively were noted with associated malignant neoplasms. From these figures the localised form may be coincidental.…”

“…Barnes 4 (1976) reviewed 258 cases from the literature. However, scleroderma or systemic sclerosis in association with malignancy is rare and uterine neoplasms have been implicated in only two previously reported cases 5 …”

Interrelationships of the Mesenchymal Diseases with Consideration of Possible Genetic Mechanisms

“…The serology of the two diseases may overlap. LE cells have been reported (284,285,286) in the blood of three patients with dermatomyositis. We know of no instance in which SLE and derma tomyositis occurred in the same family.…”

Skin Markers of Malignancy

“…There is wide divergence in the estimates of the incidence of malignant disease; Curtis et al (1952) found eight neoplasms, including reticuloses, in 45 patients with dermatomyositis, but in other series the reported prevalence of neoplasms has varied from 500% in patients over 40 (Arundell et at., 1960) to 6.7% in 270 patients seen at the Mayo Clinic (Christianson et al, 1956). Williams (1959), in a review of the literature, pointed out the possibility of error because cases with an association between dermatomyositis and neoplasm were more likely to be published.…”