title: Dermatomyositis presenting with Ludwig's angina.
abstract: An interesting case of a patient with dermatomyositis and a superimposed Ludwig's angina is presented. Dermatomyositis is a disease that is poorly understood and has many presenting characteristics similar to facial cellulitis and infection. In the present case the rapid progression of the clinical course necessitated prompt intervention. It was virtually impossible to differentiate between signs of dermatomyositis and an infectious process. No clear cause of the facial swelling was determined, but it was presumably from an ulcerative lesion in the floor of the mouth.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Fridrich
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008158:Ludwig's Angina / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck