Melanonychia
Melanonychia, or melanin-derived brown-to-black nail pigmentation, is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The most serious disease of the nail unit, melanoma, primarily presents with melanonychia. However, melanonychia most often occurs as a result of benign etiologies such as nail matrix melanoc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | Dermatology Research and Practice |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952186 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832556342003367936 |
|---|---|
| author | Julie Jefferson Phoebe Rich |
| author_facet | Julie Jefferson Phoebe Rich |
| author_sort | Julie Jefferson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Melanonychia, or melanin-derived brown-to-black nail pigmentation, is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The most serious disease of the nail unit, melanoma, primarily presents with melanonychia. However, melanonychia most often occurs as a result of benign etiologies such as nail matrix melanocytic activation, nail matrix melanocytic hyperplasia, and nail invasion by melanin-producing pathogens. Regrettably, patients with nail apparatus melanoma are often initially misdiagnosed, and due to diagnostic delays of an average of 2 years, melanoma of the nail unit carries a poor prognosis. Having a thorough knowledge of the various causes of melanonychia and using a systematic approach when evaluating brown-to-black nail pigmentation may help prevent misdiagnosis and thereby improve prognosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-769e7450cf1f48afa9a76ee34bbe6d79 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-6105 1687-6113 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dermatology Research and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-769e7450cf1f48afa9a76ee34bbe6d792025-02-03T05:45:38ZengWileyDermatology Research and Practice1687-61051687-61132012-01-01201210.1155/2012/952186952186MelanonychiaJulie Jefferson0Phoebe Rich1Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USAOregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USAMelanonychia, or melanin-derived brown-to-black nail pigmentation, is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The most serious disease of the nail unit, melanoma, primarily presents with melanonychia. However, melanonychia most often occurs as a result of benign etiologies such as nail matrix melanocytic activation, nail matrix melanocytic hyperplasia, and nail invasion by melanin-producing pathogens. Regrettably, patients with nail apparatus melanoma are often initially misdiagnosed, and due to diagnostic delays of an average of 2 years, melanoma of the nail unit carries a poor prognosis. Having a thorough knowledge of the various causes of melanonychia and using a systematic approach when evaluating brown-to-black nail pigmentation may help prevent misdiagnosis and thereby improve prognosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952186 |
| spellingShingle | Julie Jefferson Phoebe Rich Melanonychia Dermatology Research and Practice |
| title | Melanonychia |
| title_full | Melanonychia |
| title_fullStr | Melanonychia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melanonychia |
| title_short | Melanonychia |
| title_sort | melanonychia |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/952186 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliejefferson melanonychia AT phoeberich melanonychia |