Madan V, Chinoy H, Griffiths CE et al.
Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2009;34:451–5.
Editor’s note: Dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis, myositis overlapping with another connective tissue disease, and inclusion-body myositis are the so-called idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). These IIMs are characterized by proximal muscle weakness, increased levels of muscle-specific enzymes, specific electromyographic abnormalities, and inflammatory cell infiltrates in skeletal muscles. In the case of DM, typical cutaneous features are also present. An association between IIMs and cancer has been described in adults (
Br J Cancer 2001;85:41–5). The authors of the present article thoroughly review the existing evidence linking myositis with cancer. Various population-based, epidemiological studies of this association are summarized in a table and discussed in detail.