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Background: Dermatomyositis has been reported to be associated with malignancies in 15%-34% of patients in Western countries, but in as many as two-thirds of patients in Singapore. The aim of this study was to determine whether a diagnostic measure could be helpful in the diagnosis of a malignancy in patients with dermatomyositis., Methods: This is a retrospective study on 38 adult patients with dermatomyositis that were seen over a 6-year period from 1989 to 1994., Results: All the patients presented with cutaneous features that suggest the clinical diagnosis of dermatomyositis; however, not all cases show all the key features of the disease. Of the studied patients, 86.8% were noted to have photosensitivity as a key cutaneous presentation. Thirty (78.9%) of our patients were above the age of 40 years, and 12 (31.6%) of these were found to have an associated malignancy. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was the most commonly associated malignancy (38.4%) in our study population., Conclusions: In our study population, otorhinolaryngologic screening is an essential investigation for the evaluation of dermatomyositis in association with malignancy.

Background: Eye protection with UVA-blocking solar shields is recommended on the day of PUVA treatment and the following day for our patients; however, many patients found this eyewear cosmetically unacceptable., Method: We investigated 34 pairs of sunglasses to determine their suitability for providing adequate protection. The method used was modified from the technique used by Moseley et al. in 1988., Results: We found that 21 (61.8%) of the 34 pairs of sunglasses and only 9 (53%) of the 17 pairs of sunglasses used by our patients were "satisfactory." Expensive brands and polarizing sunglasses do not guarantee optimal UVA protection., Conclusion: We recommend that all patients should use wrap-around solar shields for optimal eye-protection, while undergoing PUVA treatment. The availability of more cosmetically acceptable glasses will encourage better patients' compliance to protect their eyes with optical aids.