Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy associated with
characteristic cutaneous and extracutaneous manifestations, including mali
gnancy. Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC) is the least common site of
origin for a malignant neoplasm of the female genital tract. This report de
scribes the first documented case of DM and concurrent FTC in the United St
ates. A 62-year-old woman presented with DM and was subsequently found to h
ave FTC. During her clinical course, she had improvement in strength and fu
nction with treatment of the underlying FTC, which also correlated with low
er creatinine phosphokinase levels. An association between DM and FTC may e
xist because of significant functional strength improvements after tumor re
moval and chemotherapy. (C) 1998 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation
Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.