title: Dermatomyositis with subclinical myositis and spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumothorax: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Dermatomyositis (DM) is a clinical entity characterized by a distinctive cutaneous rash and inflammatory myopathy. Besides skin and muscle, the disease can also involve other internal organs, especially the lungs. We describe a patient with dermatomyositis and incomplete signs of myositis who developed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and massive subcutaneous emphysema. This case illustrates a rare pulmonary complication of DM, and underscores that muscular involvement in this disease is not always reflected in laboratory and/or histological abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: van Engelen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Laan
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: van de Putte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed