Two cases of dermatomyositis with lung cancer

Dermatomyositis is considered to be associated with an increased risk of malignant disease. We report two patients manifesting dermatomyositis with lung cancer. One was a 66-year-old woman with heliotrope rash, Gottron's signs and diffuse poikiloderma of the trunk. As she did not have myositis, we assigned the diagnosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis. She had a lung adenocarcinoma and there was a slight improvement in the skin rash after successful treatment of lung cancer. The second patient was a 67-year-old man with cutaneous manifestations and myositis as well as interstitial pneumonia. He had small cell carcinoma of the lung. Treatment with oral corticosteroid for dermatomyositis was successful, despite worsening of lung cancer.