[Dermatomyositis as a paraneoplastic first symptom of ovarian cancer]

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare disease, which is associated with malignancy in around 20% of cases. DM can precede the diagnosis of ovarian cancer by years. In this case, a 63-year-old woman was diagnosed with DM by biopsy due to diffuse symptoms of oedema in both arms and a spreading violet/dark red rash of both arms and thighs. A large inoperable ovarian tumour was found subsequently. In order to reach an early diagnosis and curatively treat people with cancer, extra focus must be paid on paraneoplastic phenomenons including DM.