Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and prostate cancer: Myopathy regression under cancer-directed therapy

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with characteristic skin and muscle manifestations.
• DM can present as a paraneoplastic syndrome, indicating an underlying neoplasm.
• Prostate cancer is a significant global malignancy in men.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of prostate adenocarcinoma presenting with dermatomyositis as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
• To highlight the relationship between dermatomyositis and underlying malignancy.
• To emphasize the potential of dermatomyositis symptoms as an early warning for malignancy recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 65-year-old male patient.
• Clinical presentation included dysphagia, muscle weakness, and facial rash.
• Diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma and dermatomyositis.

Main Results:

• The patient's dermatomyositis symptoms initially improved with prostate cancer treatment.
• Dermatomyositis symptoms recurred and worsened as the prostate tumor progressed.
• This case illustrates the paraneoplastic association between prostate cancer and dermatomyositis.

Conclusions:

• Dermatomyositis is a rare systemic disorder with a known association with malignancy.
• Treatment targeting the underlying malignancy can lead to improvement in DM manifestations.
• Recurrence of DM symptoms may serve as an indicator of malignancy relapse, necessitating vigilant monitoring.