Multicentre international audit of International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies (IMACS) malignancy screening guidelines in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: insights from the myositis audit and research collaborative group
Authors' conclusion
Observed cancer distribution across IMACS risk categories was consistent with the framework's stratification logic, but differential screening intensity precludes formal assessment of predictive validity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) from eight centres across seven countries/regions72.3% female
- Participants
- 795 patients
- Exposure
- Historical cancer screening vs IMACS guideline recommendations, across IMACS risk categories
- Outcome
- Distribution across IMACS risk categories and receipt of full panel of IMACS-recommended tests
Methodological detailscohort study, international, multivariable logistic regression
- Cohort study
- International
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Values
Full IMACS test panel
Share of observed cancers High risk 77.4% · Moderate risk 22.6% · Standard risk 0
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Independent predictors of cancer (multivariable)
| OR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-TIF1γ positivity | 4.64 (2.35–9.16) | P < 0.001 | |
| Smoking | 3.00 (1.64–5.50) | P < 0.001 | |
| Night sweats | 12.76 (2.72–59.87) | P = 0.001 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | OR (per year) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent predictors of cancer (multivariable)Increasing age | 1.05 (1.03–1.07) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Independent predictors of cancer (multivariable)Each additional high-risk feature | OR 1.70 | |
| Independent predictors of cancer (multivariable)Each low-risk feature | OR 0.76 | |
| Characteristics of underscreened vs other individualsUnderscreened vs Others | IMNM rate 5.6% vs 14.3% | P = 0.005 |
| Characteristics of underscreened vs other individualsUnderscreened vs Others | anti-TIF1γ positivity 6.8% vs 31.4% | P < 0.001 |
Malignancy within 3 years of diagnosis
- Patients developing malignancy
- 86 (10.8%)
Independent predictors of cancer (multivariable)
- Anti-Mi2 antibodies and non-DM subtypes were protective
Original publication
Multicentre international audit of IMACS malignancy screening guidelines in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: insights from the myositis audit and research collaborative group. RMD Open. Published 15 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →