Shawl sign

What it means

Erythematous, poikilodermatous macules distributed in a shawl pattern over the shoulders, arms and upper back.

This feature may be observed with dermatomyositis and polymyositis.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category