Researchers associated with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the University of Manchester have been pivotal in crafting the inaugural guideline for cancer screening in myositis, an inflammatory muscle disease linked to an increased risk of cancer. This guideline specifically addresses individuals with adult-onset myositis, a rare condition marked by muscle weakness, and encompasses 18 recommendations.

The primary goal is to empower healthcare professionals to detect cancer early, particularly in those at a heightened risk, leading to improved overall outcomes. The guidelines enable the classification of individuals into standard, moderate, or high-risk groups based on their myositis subtype, autoantibody status, and specific clinical features.

The guideline outlines two screening panels: a 'basic' one that includes tests like chest radiography, and an 'enhanced' option utilizing advanced techniques such as CT scans and tumor markers. Detailed recommendations regarding the timing and frequency of screening are provided and tailored to individual risk levels.

In specific cases, additional procedures such as gastrointestinal endoscopy and PET–CT scans are recommended. Myositis, an autoimmune muscle disease, affects approximately 10,000 individuals in the UK, and evidence suggests that up to 1 in 4 people with myositis will develop cancer within three years of diagnosis. Various cancers have been reported, including lung, ovarian, colorectal, lymphoma, breast, and nasopharyngeal cancers. Myositis itself is currently treatable but not curable.

Source: manchester.ac.uk

 

 

 

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