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DM Cancer Screening — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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HardMyositisDM Cancer ScreeningSCE Rheumatology

A child with juvenile dermatomyositis has no clinical feature suggesting malignancy. What cancer-screening approach is recommended?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Routine population screening plus investigation of emerging clinical concerns

Unlike adult-onset inflammatory myopathy, juvenile-onset IIM is not associated with a sufficient excess cancer risk to justify routine enhanced screening. Clinicians should still investigate red flags such as unexplained weight loss, cytopenia or lymphadenopathy.

Reference: IMACS international guideline for inflammatory-myopathy-associated cancer screening (Published November 2023): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-023-01045-w; BSR guideline for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy in children and adults (Published April 2022): https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/61/5/1760/6555980