Dermatomyositis and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Report of 8 Cases

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a frequent cancer in Tunisia, with an incidence of 1.6 to 3.5 per 100 000 people.1 The association of DM and NPC has mainly been described in Southeast Asia.2-5 We report 8 cases of NPC associated with DM. Since the first observation of NPC associated with DM described in 1969, more than 160 cases have been reported.1-3 Fewer than 10 reports concerned white patients.1 To our knowledge, our series is the largest reporting the association of DM and NPC in whites. The relationship between Epstein-Barr virus infection and both DM and NPC suggests a possible viral cause.4 All our patients had an undifferentiated carcinoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Several studies have suggested that some clinical and biological features are associated with a greater risk for cancer.1,5 None of our patients had ulceronecrotic skin lesions, but 4 patients with high CK values had severe muscular weakness.