Dermatomyositis in a skin clinic.

12 cases of dermatomyositis were seen in the Middle Road Hospital over a five year period. 2 cases were childhood dermatomyositis. Of the 10 adult patients, the majority (7) were in the younger age group between 21 to 40 years old. The incidence of underlying malignancy was 60% in adult patients and of all the malignancies, 66.7% were nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 4 of the 6 patients with underlying malignancy were in the younger age group of 21-40 years old which was previously reported as uncommon.