Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by distinct skin rash and muscle weakness. Approximately 15%∼30% DM cases present as a paraneoplastic syndrome often associated with an underlying malignancy. Herein, we report the case of a 60-year-old male recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer and exhibited symptoms of DM. The patient presented with generalized muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash persisting for 3 months. Muscle weakness initially manifested in the proximal arms and later progressed to the proximal legs. In addition, the patient experienced difficulty in swallowing food. Clinical, laboratory, histological, and imaging assessments confirmed the diagnosis of DM associated with esophageal cancer. Notably, both DM and esophageal cancer can cause dysphagia. Therefore, accurate differentiation of dysphagia resulting from malignancy from that resulting from DM is pivotal in the diagnostic process.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by distinct skin rash and muscle weakness. Approximately 15%∼30% DM cases present as a paraneoplastic syndrome often associated with an underlying malignancy. Herein, we report the case of a 60-year-old male recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer and exhibited symptoms of DM. The patient presented with generalized muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash persisting for 3 months. Muscle weakness initially manifested in the proximal arms and later progressed to the proximal legs. In addition, the patient experienced difficulty in swallowing food. Clinical, laboratory, histological, and imaging assessments confirmed the diagnosis of DM associated with esophageal cancer. Notably, both DM and esophageal cancer can cause dysphagia. Therefore, accurate differentiation of dysphagia resulting from malignancy from that resulting from DM is pivotal in the diagnostic process.

Benign small bowel strictures can occur in association with various conditions, including small bowel Crohn’s disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteritis, ischemic enteritis, intestinal tuberculosis, radiation enteritis, postoperative adhesions, and anastomotic strictures. Benign small bowel strictures are classified into two categories, low-grade and high-grade. Low-grade small bowel strictures involve a partial reduction of the internal diameter of the small intestine, causing slight obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids without significant bowel obstruction symptoms. By contrast, high-grade small bowel strictures involve a severe narrowing of the intestinal lumen, leading to marked obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids and pronounced bowel obstruction symptoms. Small bowel strictures can be diagnosed using various methods, including abdominal plain radiography, abdominal computed tomography, computed tomography enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and abdominal ultrasound. Each diagnostic method has unique advantages and disadvantages as well as differences in diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, even if small bowel strictures are not observed using a single imaging technique, their presence cannot be completely excluded. A comprehensive diagnosis that combines clinical information from multiple diagnostic modalities is necessary. Therapeutic approaches for managing small bowel strictures include medical therapy, endoscopic balloon dilation using balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and surgical methods such as strictureplasty and segmental resection. Endoscopic balloon dilation, in particular, can help reduce complications associated with repeated surgeries for strictures.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by distinct skin rash and muscle weakness. Approximately 15%∼30% DM cases present as a paraneoplastic syndrome often associated with an underlying malignancy. Herein, we report the case of a 60-year-old male recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer and exhibited symptoms of DM. The patient presented with generalized muscle weakness and a characteristic skin rash persisting for 3 months. Muscle weakness initially manifested in the proximal arms and later progressed to the proximal legs. In addition, the patient experienced difficulty in swallowing food. Clinical, laboratory, histological, and imaging assessments confirmed the diagnosis of DM associated with esophageal cancer. Notably, both DM and esophageal cancer can cause dysphagia. Therefore, accurate differentiation of dysphagia resulting from malignancy from that resulting from DM is pivotal in the diagnostic process.

Benign small bowel strictures can occur in association with various conditions, including small bowel Crohn’s disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteritis, ischemic enteritis, intestinal tuberculosis, radiation enteritis, postoperative adhesions, and anastomotic strictures. Benign small bowel strictures are classified into two categories, low-grade and high-grade. Low-grade small bowel strictures involve a partial reduction of the internal diameter of the small intestine, causing slight obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids without significant bowel obstruction symptoms. By contrast, high-grade small bowel strictures involve a severe narrowing of the intestinal lumen, leading to marked obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids and pronounced bowel obstruction symptoms. Small bowel strictures can be diagnosed using various methods, including abdominal plain radiography, abdominal computed tomography, computed tomography enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and abdominal ultrasound. Each diagnostic method has unique advantages and disadvantages as well as differences in diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, even if small bowel strictures are not observed using a single imaging technique, their presence cannot be completely excluded. A comprehensive diagnosis that combines clinical information from multiple diagnostic modalities is necessary. Therapeutic approaches for managing small bowel strictures include medical therapy, endoscopic balloon dilation using balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and surgical methods such as strictureplasty and segmental resection. Endoscopic balloon dilation, in particular, can help reduce complications associated with repeated surgeries for strictures.

Benign small bowel strictures can occur in association with various conditions, including small bowel Crohn’s disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteritis, ischemic enteritis, intestinal tuberculosis, radiation enteritis, postoperative adhesions, and anastomotic strictures. Benign small bowel strictures are classified into two categories, low-grade and high-grade. Low-grade small bowel strictures involve a partial reduction of the internal diameter of the small intestine, causing slight obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids without significant bowel obstruction symptoms. By contrast, high-grade small bowel strictures involve a severe narrowing of the intestinal lumen, leading to marked obstruction of the passage of food and digestive fluids and pronounced bowel obstruction symptoms. Small bowel strictures can be diagnosed using various methods, including abdominal plain radiography, abdominal computed tomography, computed tomography enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and abdominal ultrasound. Each diagnostic method has unique advantages and disadvantages as well as differences in diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, even if small bowel strictures are not observed using a single imaging technique, their presence cannot be completely excluded. A comprehensive diagnosis that combines clinical information from multiple diagnostic modalities is necessary. Therapeutic approaches for managing small bowel strictures include medical therapy, endoscopic balloon dilation using balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and surgical methods such as strictureplasty and segmental resection. Endoscopic balloon dilation, in particular, can help reduce complications associated with repeated surgeries for strictures.