Dermatomyositis and cutaneous necrosis: report of five cases.

We report on five patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and cutaneous necrosis. Patients presented with classic DM skin eruptions, mild myositis, and a high incidence (4/5) of interstitial pneumonia. Cutaneous necrosis developed independently of steroid therapy, with the majority of lesions being cured following several months of sterilization treatment. In addition, one patient with accompanying cancer presented with multiple necrotic lesions. Topical treatment using gentiana violet against local infection was considered to have been essential in accelerating healing.