title: Dermatomyositis as a paraneoplastic phenomenon in ovarian cancer.
abstract: A 60-year-old woman diagnosed with papillary serous ovarian cancer had Klean-Prep and MRI contrast preoperatively. Afterwards, she developed swelling and an urticarial rash around her eye as she proceeded to have planned debulking surgery. Postoperatively the swelling and rash had spread over her face, neck, back and chest. Dermatology advised a possible allergy to Klean-Prep and MRI contrast. Subsequently over the next few months, the patient became severely debilitated from proximal myopathy of the upper and lower limbs, suffered severe pain restricting mobility and small bowel obstruction. Medical oncologist reviewed the patient, clinically diagnosed dermatomyositis and initiated treatment with high-dose intravenous steroids, resulting in remission of the patient's condition. The main purpose of this study is to describe the severity, diagnostic challenges and underline the clinical significance of dermatomyositis manifestations as a paraneoplastic effect in patients with ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones