Case Report
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World J Hepatol. Apr 27, 2013; 5(4): 230-233
Published online Apr 27, 2013. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v5.i4.230
Dermatomyositis associated with gallbladder carcinoma: A case report
Qing-Feng Ni, Guo-Qing Liu, Li-Yong Pu, Liang-Liang Kong, Lian-Bao Kong
Qing-Feng Ni, Guo-Qing Liu, Li-Yong Pu, Liang-Liang Kong, Lian-Bao Kong, Department of Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, The National Institute of Living Donor Liver Transplantation, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Ni QF, Liu GQ and Kong LB contributed equally to this work; Ni QF, Liu GQ, Pu LY and Kong LB performed the clinical examinations; Ni QF, Pu LY, Kong LL and Kong LB were in charge of the surgery; Ni QF wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Lian-Bao Kong, PhD, MD, Department of Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, The National Institute of Living Donor Liver Transplantation, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. lbkong@njmu.edu.cn
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Received: November 24, 2012
Revised: December 25, 2012
Accepted: January 11, 2013
Published online: April 27, 2013
Processing time: 154 Days and 6.1 Hours
Abstract

Patients with gallbladder carcinoma can present with a variety of paraneoplastic syndromes, including Cushing’s syndrome, hypercalcemia, acanthosis nigricans, bullous pemphigoid, dermatomyositis and the sign of Leser-Trélat. Surgical resection of the primary tumor results in resolution of these paraneoplastic syndromes. We present a 67-year old female with facial and cervical erythema who was initially diagnosed with dermatomyositis. However, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT scan was suspicious for gallbladder carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. After surgical resection, her dermatomyositis was resolved. This case demonstrates that dermatomyositis may be a manifestation of preexisting gallbladder carcinoma.

Keywords: Dermatomyositis; Paraneoplastic syndromes; Gallbladder carcinoma