Paraneoplastische dermatomyositis bij rectumcarcinoom: belang van snelle diagnose en therapie, maar onduidelijkheid over de beste aanpak

Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis in rectal cancer: importance of rapid diagnosis and therapy, but uncertainty about the best approach A 55-year-old woman, recently diagnosed with peritoneal metastasized rectal adenocarcinoma, developed a rash on her face, hands and torso, shortly after starting chemotherapy, as well as progressive proximal myalgia. Based on the typical symptoms, the increased creatine kinases (CK) levels after a biochemistry test and the characteristic abnormalities after an EMG, the diagnosis of dermatomyositis was made. Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the skin and muscles, which may also be accompanied by systemic manifestations. The etiology of dermatomyositis is still not fully understood. When dermatomyositis develops at older age, however, it is often a paraneoplastic syndrome. DM is a disease that can have a rapid and severe course. Thereby, fast recognition and adequate treatment are extremely important. The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options are discussed in the article on the basis of the current literature.