Synchronous Double Cancer of the Stomach and Colon Occurring in a Dermatomyositis Patient: A Case Report

Madoka Hamada, Junichi Ichikawa, Mitsuya Ito, Tatsuhiro Ishii, Tadanori Ishikawa, Yuichi Shibuya, Yasuo Shima, Yutaka Nishioka, Takahiro Okabayashi and Tadashi Horimi

Department of Surgery Kochi Municipal Central Hospital

We report a case of dermatomyositis combined with early gastric cancer synchronous with advanced colonic cancer. A 72-year-old man noting whole-body erythema with desquamation in June 1999 was found in gastroduodenoscopy during a physical check up to have macroscopic Type 1 adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Examination of the skin biopsy did not show specific dermatomyositis features. Surgical excision of the gastric cancer was done on December 8, 1999. A colonic tumor was pointed out during laparotomy, and both tumors were excised. Erythema disappeared by postoperative day (POD) 3, but the patient felt progressive muscle loss. Serum myoglobin-S, muscle biopsy, and electromyography supported a dermatomyositis diagnosis. Administration of predonisolone (50 mg/day) was started on December 25, 1999, to control myopathy. His feeling of muscle loss dramatically improved and he was able to walk freely.

Key words
dermatomyositis, colonic cancer, gastric cancer

Reprint requests
Madoka Hamada Department of Surgery, Kochi Municipal Central Hospital 2-7-33 Sakurai-cho, Kochi-city, 780-0821 JAPAN

Accepted
February 26, 2003

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