Polymyositis leading to diagnosis and resection of occult localized carcinoma of the cecum.

Polymyositis in an elderly but alert man led to an intensive search for an occult malignancy, which was found and removed. A five-year follow-up without evidence of metastasis supports the concept that polymyositis may antedate metastasis of underlying carcinoma and provide an opportunity for diagnosis and excision of the tumor before it has spread.