CASE REPORT

A case of polymyositis with a significantly high level of KL-6 associated with pancreatic cancer

Authors

Yohei Kida^1,2, Etsuko Maeshima¹, Kanako Furukawa¹, Tomohiro Ichikawa¹, Mikako Goda¹ and Masakazu Ichinose¹

1. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
2. Present address: Department of Inernal Medicine, Kainan City Hospital, 272-3 Hikata, Kainan 642-0002, Japan

Received:

28 July 2006

Accepted:

27 February 2007

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Abstract

A 53-year-old man was diagnosed with polymyositis (PM) in 1997 and treated with prednisolone. The subjective symptoms of pneumonitis were poor. However, the KL-6 values were elevated to 2230IU/l in March 2001. Abdominal computer tomography findings revealed a pancreatic-tail tumor and multiple liver nodules, diagnosed as primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma with multiple liver metastasis. The stage of the pancreatic cancer was IV, and curative surgery of the tumor was not indicated. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were administered for the liver metastasis. However, these therapies were ineffective against the tumors. The patient died on 12 September 2001. If a high level of KL-6 is found without the increasing activity of lung disease containing interstitial pneumonia in PM patients, examination for the internal malignancies including pancreatic cancer should be performed, although cases of PM with a significantly high level of KL-6 associated with pancreatic cancer are rare.

Key words

KL-6 - Pancreatic cancer - Polymyositis