Subscapular bursitis as a rare manifestation of dermatomyositis: a case report

Dermatomyositis (DM) is characterized by proximal muscle weakness and characteristic skin rash. Pain is a less common feature and usually indicates inflammation of extramuscular structures such as fascia. Here we report a rare case of subscapular bursitis in a 48-year-old woman with DM. She initially presented with severe, sharp, stabbing pain in her right shoulder that worsened with shoulder movement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed inflammation in the right subscapular bursae. A few months later, the patient developed periungual erythema, Gottron’s papules, and shawl sign with muscle pain in her thighs. DM was diagnosed based on the presence of interface dermatitis on skin biopsy and diffuse muscle inflammation on MRI. Bursitis and myalgia responded incompletely to nonste­roidal anti-inflammatory drugs but promptly to corticosteroids. Here we report a case of subscapular bursitis as a rare manifestation of DM. Pain in patients with DM may warrant physicians to evaluate for the presence of additional inflammatory processes in the perimuscular structures.