Not a Statin-Induced Myopathy: Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Presenting As Paraneoplastic Myositis

Cureus. 2022 May 15;14(5):e25016. doi: 10.7759/cureus.25016. eCollection 2022 May.

Abstract

Polymyositis is an inflammatory disease that causes bilateral proximal muscle weakness; unlike dermatomyositis, it is not usually associated with malignancy. However, there are a handful of case reports documenting polymyositis in patients with lymphoma, breast, lung, and bladder cancer. Here we report a case of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma disguised by presenting as polymyositis. Clinical presentation, laboratory values, muscle biopsy, and imaging were all diagnostic of paraneoplastic polymyositis. The patient has significantly improved in symptoms are receiving systemic steroids and pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Keywords: cancer-associated myositis; metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma; myopathy; pancreatic cancer; paraneoplastic myositis; polymyositis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports