title: Polymyositis presenting as a neck mass.
abstract: Polymyositis is a rare disease entity belonging to the class of enigmatic disorders known as the collagen vascular diseases. It is characterized by proximal muscle weakness. More than 50% of the patients with this disease have development of head and neck manifestations, most commonly a heliotrope rash or dysphagia. Weakness and atrophy of neck muscles, and lolling of the neck have also been described. We report a case of polymyositis presenting as a neck mass, a heretofore undescribed manifestation of this disease in the head and neck. A review of the literature and an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of this unusual disease will be described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wanamaker
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wanamaker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavertu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000473:pathology*