Primary lung cancer associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, with a review of the literature

• Published in: Rheumatology international 2001-02, Vol.20 (2), p.81-84
• Main Authors: FUJITA, J, TOKUDA, M, TAKAHARA, J, BANDOH, S, YANG, Y, FUKUNAGA, Y, HOJO, S, UEDA, Y, DOBASHI, N, DOHMOTO, K, ISHIDA, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma - complications; Carcinoma - secondary; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous - complications; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous - secondary; Carcinoma, Small Cell - complications; Carcinoma, Small Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - complications; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Dermatomyositis - etiology; Dermatomyositis - pathology; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiography, Thoracic; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s002960000070

It has been suggested that lung cancer is frequently associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical features of primary lung cancer associated with PM/DM. We first describe the clinical features of two cases treated in our hospital, and then provide a review of the literature. Finally, 24 patients (five females and 19 males) with primary lung cancer associated with PM/DM are retrospectively evaluated. Histological types of lung cancer were as follows: small cell lung cancer (n = 7), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 5), adenocarcinoma (n = 2), others (n = 5), and unknown (4). The onset of PM/DM is frequently observed before the detection of lung cancer. This is the first report to describe the clinical features of lung cancer associated with PM/DM.