A Case of Polymyositis Associated with Early Gastric Cancer and Early Sigmoid Colon Cancer

The frequent association between polymyositis-dermatomyositis and internal malignancy is quite familiar, and the malignant lesion is usually advanced. A case of polymyositis associated with early gastric and early sigmoidcolon cancers is reported. A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with polymyositis in 1985 and subsequently examinedfor malignancy once a year. In September 1990, elevated CEA and CA19-9 values were detected, and early gastricand early sigmoid colon cancers were discovered. Partial gastrectomy and partial sigmoidectomy were performed, and the patients' CEA and CA19-9 values decreased to within normal limits. This is a very rare case, and it appearsthat yearly examination for malignancy was responsible for the early detection of the gastric and colon cancers.Thus, examinations for malignancy should be carried out at least once a year after a diagnosis of polymyositis ismade.