| Abstrakt: |
Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are rare inflammatory conditions that affect both the skin and muscles. They cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, pain, dysphagia, and fever. These conditions are particularly associated with malignancies, including ovarian, lung, pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancer. A 67-year-old woman presented general weakness, leg swelling, paraplegia, and dysphagia. She was diagnosed with active myositis and axonal polyneuropathy. Imaging studies revealed a 10 cm ovarian mass, which suggested an association with ovarian carcinoma. Steroid therapy was initiated to treat the rash and muscle weakness, but the primary focus shifted toward treating the underlying malignancy. A biopsy confirmed the presence of high-grade serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. Considering the patient's poor general condition, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered, leading to an improvement of the skin lesions. Subsequent cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in the full recovery of dysphagia and paraplegia. After six cycles of adjuvant and maintenance bevacizumab, the patient achieved complete remission. This case underscores the importance of considering underlying malignancies in the patients displaying signs indicative of DM and PM. Furthermore, it highlights the efficacy of a comprehensive approach that addresses both the inflammatory disease and the associated malignancy, demonstrating the significance of a multidisciplinary treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
