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J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) is a common dermatologic finding in clinical practice with a broad differential diagnosis. Melanocytic activation is the most common LM etiology.

Objective: To investigate clinical and dermoscopic differences of benign LM based on Fitzpatrick skin type and in biopsied vs. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2022 Jun 9. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

FP Essent 2022 Jun;517:27-34

Department of Dermatology - University of Michigan School of Medicine, 1910 Taubman Center 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5314.

A thorough understanding of nail anatomy can help physicians identify the causes of nail conditions. Observation of changes to the nail can help establish a diagnosis. Patient evaluation should include a physical examination, dermoscopy, and, in some cases, nail biopsy. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 May 28. Epub 2022 May 28.

Division of Dermatology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey. Electronic address:

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2022 Apr 11;113(4):388-400. Epub 2021 Nov 11.

Servicio de Dermatología, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, España.

The study of subungual melanocytic lesions can present challenges because of the clinical and histologic characteristics of the nail unit and the difficulty of performing nail biopsies and processing specimens. These lesions can be even more challenging in children due to differences in clinical and epidemiological profiles between the adult and pediatric populations. Many of the clinical features of subungual melanocytic lesions that would raise alarm in an adult do not have the same implications in children. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 May 6. Epub 2022 May 6.

Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. Electronic address:

Although there is a higher incidence of melanoma among non-Hispanic white individuals, melanoma is diagnosed at more advanced stages and associated with worse survival rates among individuals with skin of color (SOC). The proportion of melanoma subtypes differs across racial groups, with acral lentiginous melanoma and mucosal melanoma representing higher proportions of melanoma diagnoses in individuals with SOC compared to white individuals. Recognition of distinct differences in anatomic location and dermoscopic patterns may facilitate appropriate differentiation of physiologic from pathologic pigmentation. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2021 Dec 15;27(12). Epub 2021 Dec 15.

Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Local Health Centre Taranto, Taranto, Italy,.

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a sporadic, acquired, and infrequent condition characterized by the onset of brown macules on the lips, the oral mucosa, and the acral glabrous skin (mainly fingers and toes) in middle-aged patients. In several cases melanonychia of fingernails and toenails coexists. No other systemic involvement is observed. Read More

J Dermatol 2022 Apr 15. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

In this paper, we report the case of a 71-year-old man with an 8-year history of melanonychia on the right little finger, who referred to our hospital because the color of pigmented area had gradually darkened and the width had expanded. Physical examination revealed longitudinal melanonychia with brown color (4 mm in width). Dermoscopic examination revealed multiple white round clods and splinter hemorrhages. Read More

Skin Appendage Disord 2022 Mar 15;8(2):150-153. Epub 2021 Oct 15.

Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital and Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Introduction: Nail matrix nevi (NMN) in pediatric patients manifest as longitudinal melanonychia (LM) and can share clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological characteristics with subungual melanoma. Equivocal findings in childhood LM may reflect dynamic processes during the natural life cycle of NMN in children.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a heavily pigmented LM with equivocal clinical and dermoscopic findings in a 3-year-old Caucasian girl, which exhibited signs of evolution, maturation, and almost complete involution within a short time period during digital follow-up, attributed to the natural course of NMN. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 Apr 6. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environmental Interface Biology, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Large studies on the clinical features and natural course of pediatric longitudinal melanonychia (LM) are lacking.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and natural course of pediatric LM.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of pediatric patients (age ≤ 18 years) with LM. Read More

Pathology 2022 Mar 25. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK.

Melanocytic lesions in the nail apparatus are often challenging. Both subungual melanomas (SUM) and blue naevus of the nail are very rare. Occasionally, melanomas may mimic blue naevus histologically. Read More

Ann Med 2022 12;54(1):694-712

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY, USA.

Nail conditions are not only aesthetic concerns, and nail changes may be a clue to an underlying systemic diseases or infection. Without timely treatment, nail diseases can continue to worsen and significantly impair performance of daily activities and reduce quality of life. Examination of the nails is essential at every medical visit, and may uncover important findings. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2022 Jul 25;44(7):499-502. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Laboratoire Central D'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital L. Pasteur, University of Nice, Nail's Dermatology Consultations, Nice, Cannes, France.

Abstract: Recent studies have argued that melanocyte preferentially expressed nuclear antigen in melanoma (PRAME) is a sensitive and specific immunohistochemical marker of melanoma, including acral melanoma. In addition, loss of p16 expression has recently been suggested to have diagnostic utility in acral melanocytic tumors. The purpose of this study was to report PRAME expression in 3 cases of melanocytic activation (MAN). Read More

Clin Dermatol 2022 Feb 15. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Department of Dermatology, Research Unit Genodermatosis and Cancers LR12SP03, Habib Thameur Hospital, University of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.

Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous category of nonsyndromic ichthyosis. Nail changes in ARCI are generally frequent but have been rarely reported and studied in the literature. This stimulated us to conduct a study to describe nail changes in ARCI using a combined literature review and prospective examination from March 2019 to August 2019 (6 months) in the Dermatology Department of Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 Feb 3. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2022 Jan 29. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Service de dermatologie, Hôpitaux Drôme Nord, Romans sur Isère, Romans sur Isère, France.

Background: Congenital nail matrix nevi (NMN) are difficult to diagnose because they feature clinical characteristics suggestive of adult subungual melanoma. Nail matrix biopsy is difficult to perform, especially in children.

Objective: To describe the initial clinical and dermatoscopic features of NMN appearing at birth (congenital) or after birth but before the age of 5 years (congenital-type). Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 May 23;36(5):651-660. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.

Nail melanoma (NM) is an important differential diagnosis in patients with longitudinal melanonychia. However, diagnosis is often challenging as it is difficult to differentiate from other pigmented nail disorders. The main challenge for diagnosis is obtaining adequate nail matrix biopsy specimens for histopathological assessment. Read More

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2022 4;15:1-4. Epub 2022 Jan 4.

Department of Dermatology & STD, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.

The common causes for melanonychia include melanoma, repetitive trauma, underlying systemic diseases, onychomycosis, pseudomonas infection and drugs. Drug-induced melanonychia usually affects numerous nails and appears as light brown to black pigmentation on the deck or nail bed with longitudinal, transverse or diffuse distribution. In previous cases, a number of chemotherapeutic agents such as azathioprine, bleomycin sulfate, cyclophosphamide, hydroxyurea and methotrexate were usually linked to melanonychia. Read More

Spine Surg Relat Res 2021 9;5(6):359-364. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Introduction: Orthopedic surgeons are exposed to ionizing radiation daily. With the increase in the number of minimally invasive surgery performed under X-ray fluoroscopy, radiation exposure to unprotected fingers will increase. Although the effect of high dose radiation exposure is known, the long-term effect of exposure to low doses is unclear. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2021 10 18;165. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Radboudumc, Nijmegen.

A 34-year-old woman visited the general practitioner with a longitudinal brown pigment stripe on her fingernail (melanonychia striata). Histopathological research revealed melanin pigment increase based on lentigo (benign). Read More

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2021 Jul 1;14(7):34-37. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Drs. Sharma, Kaur, and Sekhon are with the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Background: Lichen planus is an immune-mediated disorder affecting the skin, mucous membranes, scalp, and nails.

Objective: We sought to evaluate dermatoscopic nail patterns in patients with lichen planus.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study performed in the outpatient dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital. Read More

Dermatol Clin 2022 Jan 22;40(1):37-49. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, 1701 Divisadero Street, Third Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Electronic address:

Melanonychia including melanonychia striata in children poses a diagnostic dilemma. Atypical clinical features often raise the possibility of malignancy, and a nail unit biopsy may be recommended. Commensurate with atypical clinical features, the histopathology may also appear alarming. Read More

Indian J Dermatol 2021 Jul-Aug;66(4):445

Department of Dermatopathology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) is a worrisome sign in both children and adults. Nail apparatus melanoma (NAM) can be related to LM, but it is very rare in children. Dermoscopic signs of benign lesions in children can be similar to melanoma; therefore, it is important to review dermoscopy of LM in children to make the best decision in performing biopsy. Read More

J Cutan Pathol 2022 Apr 25;49(4):331-337. Epub 2021 Oct 25.

Department of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Previous studies reported that cellular remnants in the nail plate could be a diagnostic clue for subungual melanoma (SUM). We sought to characterize the histopathologic features of cellular remnants in the nail plates of SUM patients.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in a single tertiary center from 2012 to 2019. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2021 Sep 13;38(5):1264-1266. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Departments of Dermatology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

The dermoscopic features of longitudinally aligned pigmentation on the hyponychium were previously described in pediatric patients with longitudinal melanonychia. We report four cases of biopsy-proven acral melanocytic nevi on the hyponychium with a longitudinal brush pigmentation (LBP) pattern in dermoscopy. This LBP pattern on the hyponychium may be a counterpart of the fibrillar pattern of acral melanocytic nevi. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2021 Aug 25. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Eur Spine J 2021 12 24;30(12):3702-3708. Epub 2021 Aug 24.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, 852 Hatakeda, Narita, 286-8520, Japan.

Purpose: To investigate the association between occupational direct radiation exposure to the hands and longitudinal melanonychia (LM) and hand eczema in spine surgeons.

Methods: A web-based questionnaire survey of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spinal Treatment (MIST) in Japan was conducted. The proportion of LM and hand eczema in hands with high and low-radiation exposure was compared using Fisher's exact test. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2022 Mar 20;61(3):331-336. Epub 2021 Aug 20.

Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.

Background: Onychophagia is a common disorder affecting 20% to 30% of the general population. It is defined as habitual nail biting and can cause various changes in the nail units. However, to date, there has been a paucity of data focusing on nail deformities related to onychophagia. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Aug 17;14(8). Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

J Cutan Pathol 2022 Feb 30;49(2):147-152. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Dermatology-IRCCS Policlinico di Sant'Orsola-Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Onychopapilloma is a benign tumor of the distal nail matrix and proximal nail bed with heterogeneous clinical presentations. It poses a diagnostic challenge because it could mimic subungual malignancies and inflammatory conditions. Clinical, onychoscopic, and histopathological clues play critical roles in diagnosis. Read More