title: Oral lesions as an initial manifestation of dermatomyositis with occult malignancy.
abstract: Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory disease of skeletal muscle with characteristic cutaneous features. Oral manifestations of DM have been very rarely described. This case describes a patient in whom the oral lesions were among the initial manifestations of DM. The lesions were very painful and the most distressing component of the disease in this patient. High dose systemic steroids were required to control the lesions. Investigations for an occult malignancy in this patient resulted in the identification of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in her right kidney. Commencement of chemotherapy rapidly resulted in complete resolution of her oral and skin lesions.
authors.affiliation: Dublin Dental School and Hospital, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. claire.healy@dental.tcd.ie
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Flint
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone