[Dermatomyositis and head and neck neoplasia]

The incidence of malignant disease appears to be increased in patients with dermatomyositis, although the relationship between dermatomyositis and cancer is still controversial. The most frequently associated tumors are not different from the tumors observed in the general population. There are very few cases of head and neck cancer associated with myositis reported in the medical literature despite the high incidence of these tumors in western countries. Two new cases are reported and the relationship between myositis and cancer is discussed.