Gynecologic carcinoma associated with dermatomyositis-polymyositis

Dermatomyositis-polymyositis was associated with gynecologic carcinoma in ten patients treated at the Mayo Clinic between 1952 and 1982. Only two patients did not manifest the typical skin changes of acute dermatomyositis. In all ten cases, the onset of dermatomyositis-polymyositis preceded evidence of carcinoma. The intervals between initial symptoms of dermatomyositis-polymyositis and subsequent diagnosis of carcinoma ranged from three months to six years. Usually, the carcinoma became evident within two years. The carcinomas were ovarian in five cases, cervical in three, endometrial in one, and vaginal in one. Ages of the ten patients ranged from 40 to 66 years (mean, 53 years). In most cases, symptoms of dermatomyositis-polymyositis regressed markedly after diagnosis and treatment of the underlying carcinoma. In selected patients for whom more detailed follow-up information was available, the manifestations of dermatomyositis-polymyositis progressed and regressed in synchrony with tumor spread and effective treatment, respectively.