Patients with gallbladder carcinoma can present with a variety of paraneoplastic syndromes, including Cushing's syndrome, hypercalcemia, acanthosis nigricans, bullous pemphigoid, dermatomyositis and the sign of Leser-Trélat. Surgical resection of the primary tumor results in resolution of these paraneoplastic syndromes. We present a 67-year old female with facial and cervical erythema who was initially diagnosed with dermatomyositis. However, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT scan was suspicious for gallbladder carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. After surgical resection, her dermatomyositis was resolved. This case demonstrates that dermatomyositis may be a manifestation of preexisting gallbladder carcinoma.
Keywords: Dermatomyositis; Gallbladder carcinoma; Paraneoplastic syndromes.