Dermatomyositis-Related Panniculitis of the Neck

The document described a case where a 66-year-old African American woman with a history of dermatomyositis developed dermatomyositis-related panniculitis (DP) in her neck. She experienced symptoms such as neck swelling, pain, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and difficulty breathing (dyspnea). Imaging revealed soft tissue infiltration in the neck and chest area, pleural thickening, and a new lung nodule. A biopsy of the neck confirmed DP. The patient's condition improved after treatment with corticosteroids, dapsone, and colchicine, with follow-up CT scans showing significant improvement. This case was the first to report DP in the neck and mediastinal regions, indicating a possible common cause between panniculitis and myositis, and suggesting that they might be treated in a similar way.