Cancer associated with collagen-vascular disease.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Collagen-vascular diseases are autoimmune conditions affecting connective tissues.
• Malignancy is a known, though infrequent, complication of certain autoimmune diseases.
• This report details two distinct cases linking specific autoimmune conditions with distinct cancers.

Observation:

• Case 1: A 71-year-old male with acute dermatomyositis developed adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastases.
• Case 2: A 69-year-old male with long-standing Raynaud's phenomenon and progressive systemic sclerosis developed esophageal epidermoid carcinoma with widespread metastases.

Findings:

• The first patient's death was associated with gastric adenocarcinoma.
• The second patient died from esophageal carcinoma, demonstrating extensive metastasis.

Implications:

• These cases highlight the potential association between specific collagen-vascular diseases and particular cancer types.
• Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of these associations.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for malignancy in patients with collagen-vascular diseases.