DERMATOMYOSITIS WITH SUBCLINICAL MYOSITIS AND SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM WITH PNEUMOTHORAX - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a clinical entity characterized by a distincti ve cutaneous rash and inflammatory myopathy. Besides skin and muscle, the disease can also involve other internal organs, especially the lun gs. We describe a patient with dermatomyositis and incomplete signs of myositis who developed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and massive su bcutaneous emphysema. This case illustrates a rare pulmonary, complica tion of DM, and underscores that muscular involvement in this disease is not always reflected in laboratory and/or histological abnormalitie s.