Dermatomyositis

• Dermatomyositis is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with unique cutaneous features. Patients diagnosed with dermatomyositis in adulthood have an increased risk of subsequently developing cancer.
• Early recognition of dermatomyositis is critical so that appropriate cancer screening may be incorporated into the plan of care. Nurse practitioners play an integral role in the detection and treatment of this disease.
• The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis, guidance in diagnostic testing and treatment of the disease, and recommendations related to preventative screening.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with unique cutaneous features. When it appears in adulthood, it may foreshadow several different forms of cancer. Up to 25% of DM patients will go on to develop a malignancy, and, therefore, early recognition and screening are critical. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the signs and symptoms of DM, guidance in diagnostic testing and treatment of the disease, and recommendations related to preventive screening in order to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with related systemic disease.