Dermatomyositis

Case contributed by Ian Bickle
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Admitted with chest pain. Known history of dermatomyositis.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Speckled calcification involving both lateral chest walls, more prounced on the right.

The lungs are clear.

Case Discussion

Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune inflammatory myositis, which although having a predilection for the upper aspects of the lower limbs, may involve other muscles of the body.

It may be evident on imaging in the form of soft tissue calcification - the form of which may be variable.

It can occur as part of a paraneoplastic phenomenon in adults, such as in lung cancer.

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