Successful cure of dermatomyositis after treatment of nonseminomatous testicular cancer.
Although the association between dermatomyositis and cancer is well recognized, there have been a limited number of reports of dermatomyositis associated with testicular cancer. We report the case of a 31-year-old man who was diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Because the patient's serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit were elevated, the patient was referred to our department. Physical examination revealed an induration (2 cm x 2 cm) in the left testis and the patient was diagnosed with stage IIIB left testicular cancer. A left high orchidectomy was then performed, and pathological examination revealed embryonal carcinoma. The patient was started on a systemic chemotherapeutic (etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin; VIP) regimen. After the third chemotherapy session, metastases had completely disappeared, the serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit had normalized and the dermatomyositis symptoms had improved. Cancer is known to be a trigger of dermatomyositis. This case illustrates the importance of palpation of the testes in young patients with dermatomyositis.
Department of Urology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550, Japan. atzyoshi@saitama-med.ac.jp
Atsushi
A
Yoshinaga
Tetsuo
T
Hayashi
Nobuyuki
N
Ishii
Rena
R
Ohno
Toru
T
Watanabe
Takumi
T
Yamada
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide