A Case of Recurrent Gastric Cancer Associated with Dermatomyositis

The precise links between malignancy and inflammatory myopathy remain incompletely understood. The risk of cancer is increased in patients with inflammatory myopathies. In patients with dermatomyositis there is also a higher rate of mortality from cancer. Cancer can be diagnosed before, simultaneously with, or after the diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy. Herein, we report the case of a patient with recurrent gastric cancer associated with dermatomyositis, in which multiple liver metastases were diagnosed two years after the diagnosis of dermatomyositis. Repeated cancer screening in patients with inflammatory myopathy is recommended. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing are often essential to making the diagnosis of undetected cancer.