BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumor diseases worldwide. Dermatomyositis is a known paraneoplastic syndrome that can complicate the course of a variety of different cancers, however, the association with HCC is extremely rare. CASE REPORT: Here, we report on a patient with the rare concurrence of dermatomyositis and non-hepatitis-associated advanced HCC with intra-abdominal and intrathoracal lymph node metastases. The HCC was treated with sorafenib. The dermatomyositis responded well to treatment with prednisolone and azathioprin although sorafenib did not lead to a response in the underlying HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis can be associated with non-hepatitis-associated HCC. The potential pathogenetic links between these two diseases are discussed, as well as a potential immunomodulatory effect of sorafenib independent of its antineoplastic potential. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.
BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumor diseases worldwide. Dermatomyositis is a known paraneoplastic syndrome that can complicate the course of a variety of different cancers, however, the association with HCC is extremely rare. CASE REPORT: Here, we report on a patient with the rare concurrence of dermatomyositis and non-hepatitis-associated advanced HCC with intra-abdominal and intrathoracal lymph node metastases. The HCC was treated with sorafenib. The dermatomyositis responded well to treatment with prednisolone and azathioprin although sorafenib did not lead to a response in the underlying HCC. CONCLUSIONS:Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis can be associated with non-hepatitis-associated HCC. The potential pathogenetic links between these two diseases are discussed, as well as a potential immunomodulatory effect of sorafenib independent of its antineoplastic potential. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.