Hoarseness and Dermatomyositis: Insights from the Historical Case of Maria Callas

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune inflammatory myopathy characterized by proximal muscle weakness and distinctive cutaneous manifestations. While dysphagia is a well-recognized otolaryngologic feature of DM, dysphonia-particularly as an early or isolated manifestation-remains under-recognized and may be overlooked, especially in professional voice users. Maria Callas, one of the most influential opera singers of the twentieth century, experienced a rapid and controversial vocal decline at the peak of her career, the etiology of which has long been debated.

We conducted a narrative clinical-historical review integrating contemporary otolaryngologic and rheumatologic literature with historical medical and phoniatric sources. For the clinical domain, PubMed was searched for case reports, case series, and observational studies describing dysphonia, hoarseness, laryngeal lesions, or vocal fold mobility disorders in DM or polymyositis. For the historical domain, we reviewed contemporaneous medical testimony, biographical accounts, and phoniatric and performance-based analyses of Maria Callas' recordings and filmed performances. Available data were interpreted in light of both historical (Bohan and Peter) and contemporary (EULAR/ACR) diagnostic criteria for DM. No new clinical data were generated.

Published clinical reports indicate that DM may initially present with isolated or predominant dysphonia due to inflammatory involvement of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, vocal fold mucosal lesions, or, less frequently, vocal fold paresis. In reported cases, vocal symptoms often fluctuate in parallel with disease activity and immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical and functional parallels were observed in Maria Callas, including progressive vocal fatigue, impaired respiratory support, fluctuating dysphonia, and reported partial responsiveness to corticosteroid treatment. Retrospective application of historical and contemporary diagnostic criteria suggests that dermatomyositis may represent a plausible explanation for part of Callas' clinical and vocal decline CONCLUSIONS: DM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent or unexplained dysphonia, particularly in professional singers and other elite voice users. The historical case of Maria Callas illustrates how inflammatory myopathy could potentially contribute to vocal decline and highlights the importance of considering neuromuscular disease in the differential diagnosis of persistent dysphonia. Her case underscores the importance of timely, comprehensive otolaryngologic and phoniatric evaluation - including laryngoscopy or laryngostroboscopy - within a multidisciplinary framework when dysphonia is prolonged or atypical.