Subcutaneous oedema of upper limbs heralding an aggressive form of dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis Masquerading As Generalized Body Swelling: A Case Report

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the skin and muscles. The hallmark skin manifestation is a violaceous rash on the face, neck, shoulders, upper chest, and extensor surfaces of the arms and legs, which is often accompanied by edema and can be exacerbated by exposure to sunlight. Generalized limb edema and dysphagia are rare presentations of dermatomyositis. Here we present a case of a 69-year-old woman presenting with generalized limb swelling, periorbital swelling, and dysphagia which was diagnosed as dermatomyositis based on a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. The patient had an absence of complaints of limb weakness and a predominance of complaints of edema and dysphagia which posed a diagnostic challenge. The patient was treated with high-dose steroids and immunosuppressive therapy, leading to a significant improvement in her symptoms. Edematous dermatomyositis has been associated with underlying malignancy in 25% of the cases and this warrants close follow-up and malignancy screening for such patients. In some cases, subcutaneous edema might be the only manifestation of the disease. This case underscores the importance of recognizing DM as a potential differential diagnosis in patients presenting with generalized edema and dysphagia, particularly in the initial absence of classic skin findings. This rare presentation of dermatomyositis may be a hallmark of a severe form of the disease and requires prompt recognition and aggressive treatment.

Covert clues: the non-hallmark cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a strikingly heterogenous disease characterized by a broad and ever-evolving spectrum of cutaneous manifestations that transcend the classic “hallmarks” defined by Peter and Bohan in 1975. Despite the increasing preponderance and ubiquity of autoantibody, radiologic, and electrophysiologic testing, the diagnosis of DM still hinges largely on prompt detection of cutaneous manifestations of this condition. While pathognomonic cutaneous features of DM are more readily recognizable, many patients present with subtle and/or atypical skin manifestations, and diagnosis of DM may require clinician identification of these cutaneous clues. In this review, we highlight several of the lesser-known skin manifestations of DM, specifically, panniculitis, diffuse subcutaneous edema, erythroderma, calcinosis, ulceration, flagellate erythema, Wong-type DM, gingival telangiectasias, and the ovoid palatal patch. We describe the clinical and histopathologic presentation of these cutaneous findings. While manifesting less frequently than the heliotrope rash, Gottron’s papules, and Gottron’s sign, these cutaneous clues are equally important for clinicians to recognize in order to facilitate timely diagnosis and early intervention.