Head and neck manifestations of dermatomyositis-polymyositis

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis are rare disorders of connective tissue that manifest themselves primarily as muscular weakness. Fifty-five percent of 45 patients with this diagnosis at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital had symptoms referable to the head and neck. While dysphagia and the cutaneous manifestation predominate, such symptoms as facial swelling and oral mucosal disorders may require the treating physician to seek the advice of an otolaryngologist before the patient suffers any muscular changes. A thorough knowledge of this disease entity is essential to specialists in head and neck diseases.