Dermatomyositis as an early manifestation and a significant clinical precursor of lung cancer: report of a rare case and review of the current literature.

Dermatomyositis represents an idiopathic inflammatory connective-tissue disease, characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin. There is a high incidence of malignancy in patients with dermatomyositis. The main purpose of the present paper is to describe and underline the clinical significance of dermatomyositis manifestations as a precursor and early clinical signs of small cell lung cancer.