Cutis 2017 May;99(5):E2-E4

Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Ann Dermatol 2017 Jun 11;29(3):327-330. Epub 2017 May 11.

Department of Dermatology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Nail unit melanoma is a type of acral lentiginous melanoma and requires histopathologic examination for a confirmed diagnosis. However, inadequate biopsy techniques make definitive diagnosis difficult. A 61-year-old man presented with progressive nail pigmentation for 15 years, which was clinically highly suspicious for malignancy. Read More

Skin Appendage Disord 2017 May 8;3(2):70-82. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Nail dermoscopy was initially used only in the assessment of nail pigmentation, but now it is widely utilized for the evaluation of many nail disorders. In daily practice, dermoscopy may confirm clinical diagnoses and guides in the management of nail diseases and treatments, permitting a better visualization of symptoms. Dry dermoscopy is required for evaluation of the nail plate surface, while gel as an interface is necessary for assessment of nail pigmentation and onycholysis, as well as for the evaluation of the distal nail margin. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2017 Jun;27(3):275-280

Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.

Longitudinal melanonychia is not frequently observed in children, and few studies exist on longitudinal melanonychia in paediatric patients, especially in Asian populations. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and histological findings of longitudinal melanonychia in Korean paediatric patients. A retrospective review of paediatric patients (≤18 years old) with longitudinal melanonychia who underwent nail biopsy between January 2010 and October 2015 was performed. Read More

Int J Womens Dermatol 2016 Jun 29;2(2):49-52. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Autoimmune Bullous Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.

Background: Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) can be a challenging sign since it may be caused by a wide variety of benign and malignant conditions. Cutaneous melanoma is the most important cause of LM. Objective: We performed this study to examine different aspects of LM in Iran, where cutaneous melanoma is rare. Read More

Am J Clin Dermatol 2017 May 9. Epub 2017 May 9.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Onychotillomania, defined as self-induced trauma to the nail unit, either by picking or pulling at the nails, affects 0.9% of the population. It may lead to severe irreversible nail dystrophy, melanonychia, or infections. Read More

J Dermatol 2017 May;44(5):515-517

Department of Dermatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

The prevalence of melanonychia is approximately 1%, and it is a common symptom encountered in daily practise. However, it may also be the first symptom of melanoma of the nail apparatus. Evaluation of adult melanonychia with clinical information and clinical images is sometimes difficult for clinicians. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 May;76(5):994-996

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. Electronic address:

Australas J Dermatol 2017 Mar 23. Epub 2017 Mar 23.

Dermatology Department, Municipal Public Hospital of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Onychomatricoma (OM) presenting as a longitudinal melanonychia is a very uncommon clinical presentation with very few cases in the literature. Our aim in this article is to report four cases of pigmented OM, and describe their clinical and dermoscopic findings and the importance of the differential diagnoses, especially with melanoma. Read More

Dermatol Surg 2017 Jun;43(6):798-804

*Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian, Division of Dermatology, New York, New York; †Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, New York, New York; ‡Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, New York, New York.

Background: Clinical and dermatoscopic guidelines are used to differentiate between benign longitudinal melanonychia (LM) and subungual melanoma; however, the frequency of malignancy among patients undergoing a biopsy for LM is not well defined.

Objective: To describe the histologic diagnoses and malignancy among patients undergoing a biopsy for clinical LM.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent a nail biopsy for LM at a single cancer center between 2000 and 2014. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2017 06;97(6):765-766

Noguchi Dermatology Clinic, 1834-1 Namazu, Kashima-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto 861-3101, Japan. Noguchi Dermatology Clinic, 1834-1 Namazu, Kashima-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto 861-3101, Japan.

J Clin Diagn Res 2017 Jan 1;11(1):OD04-OD05. Epub 2017 Jan 1.

Lady Medical Officer, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .

Chemotherapeutic agents may rarely cause discoloration and hyperpigmentation of the nails. We present a patient who developed blackish discoloration of nails also referred as melanonychia during six cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) for the treatment of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) follicular type. The patient developed blackish brown discoloration in all the nails. Read More

J Dermatol 2017 Mar;44(3):279-287

Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Nail neoplasms include all tumors occurring in the nail or periungual apparatus tissue. While some nail tumors can be similar to tumors located on the skin, others are unique. Both benign and malignant lesions can affect the nail apparatus. Read More

Dermatol Pract Concept 2017 Jan 31;7(1):63-66. Epub 2017 Jan 31.

Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Australia.

We present a case of nail apparatus melanoma in a 50-year-old woman presenting as new and changing longitudinal melanonychia of the right thumb. Very heavy melanin pigmentation involving both the epidermis and dermis interfered with dermatopathological assessment, which initially leads to a diagnosis of nail matrix blue nevus. After consultation with a specialist multidisciplinary clinic the diagnosis was revised to invasive melanoma, a diagnosis consistent with the clinical and dermatoscopic assessment. Read More

Skin Appendage Disord 2017 Jan 9;2(3-4):156-161. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.

Importance: Subungual melanoma (SM) is a rare subtype of cutaneous melanoma but carries a worse prognosis than similarly staged cutaneous melanomas. Assessing patient knowledge of melanonychia is integral to early diagnosis of SM.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to determine patient knowledge of longitudinal melanonychia (LM) and warning signs for SM, frequency of nail self-examinations, and satisfaction of patients with their physician's nail examinations. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Feb 15;2017. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Department of Dermatology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

J Cutan Aesthet Surg 2016 Oct-Dec;9(4):270-273

Sector of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The authors present a case of onychomatricoma, a rare benign tumour of the nail matrix, first described by Baran and Kint in 1992. The lesion appeared on the proximal nail fold, covering half the nail of the second left finger. The nail was thickened and yellowish with longitudinal melanonychia. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Feb;76(2):e73-e74

Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Feb;76(2):e71-e72

Dermatology Professionals Inc, East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Department of Dermatology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Electronic address:

Am J Med 2017 Apr 6;130(4):426-428. Epub 2017 Jan 6.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson. Electronic address:

Dermatol Surg 2017 Jul;43(7):996-999

Department of Dermatology, Yonsei Star Skin and Laser Clinic, Seoul, Korea Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2017 02;152(1):96-97

Dermatology and Venereology Department, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Clin Dermatol 2016 Nov - Dec;34(6):736-741. Epub 2016 Jul 11.

Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Nail disorders comprise an important subset of dermatologic conditions and often pose both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the clinician. Presentation and management can differ in adults and children. Proper understanding of these differences is important in delivering optimal patient care. Read More

Kidney Int 2016 Dec;90(6):1387

Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Electronic address:

Eur J Dermatol 2016 Dec;26(6):642-643

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Alameda de Santo António dos Capuchos, 1169-050 Lisbon, Portugal.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Mar 25;76(3):488-493.e2. Epub 2016 Oct 25.

Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Diagnosing fungal melanonychia (FM) is often difficult because it mimics melanonychia caused by other factors. Dermoscopy is helpful in the setting of nail pigmentation. However, the diagnostic characteristics of FM on dermoscopy are not fully elucidated. Read More

Rev Med Interne 2016 Oct 24. Epub 2016 Oct 24.

Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. Electronic address:

J Dermatol 2016 Nov 9;43(11):1358-1359. Epub 2016 Apr 9.

Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Arch Dis Child 2017 Feb 20;102(2):122. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Dell'Angelo, Mestre, Venezia, Italy.

Br J Dermatol 2016 Oct 3. Epub 2016 Oct 3.

Department of Dermatology, Lyon 1 University, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre Bénite CEDEX, France.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017 Apr 15;31(4):732-736. Epub 2016 Nov 15.

Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.

Background: Longitudinal melanonychia might be difficult to differentiate and the use of dermoscopy can be useful for the preoperative evaluation and management decision.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate clinical and dermoscopic criteria of acquired longitudinal melanonychia in adults to identify the best predictors of melanoma using a multivariate analysis and to explore eventual new dermoscopic criteria for nail melanoma diagnosis.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 82 histopathologically diagnosed, acquired nail pigmented bands were collected and examined. Read More

Rev Med Chil 2016 May;144(5):671-4

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is a rare benign idiopathic condition characterized by acquired macular pigmentation of lips and buccal mucosa, often accompanied with melanonychia. The main concern with this condition is to rule out other differential diagnosis with systemic repercussions and similar hyperpigmentation patterns, such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, adrenal insufficiency and melanoma. We report a 58-year-old female with a 20-year history of Sjögren’s syndrome, presenting with melanonychia and hyperpigmentation in the buccal mucosa. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2017 Jun 16;108(5):469-470. Epub 2016 Aug 16.

Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Hautarzt 2017 Jan;68(1):64-66

Klinikum für Hautkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Erfurter Str. 35, 07743, Jena, Deutschland.

Pigmentary nail changes may have a variety of causes, e. g., chronic inflammation, and occur more often in patients of African descent compared to Caucasians. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 May 31;2016. Epub 2016 May 31.

Department of Dermatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Tlalpan, Mexico.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Sep 11;75(3):535-540. Epub 2016 May 11.

Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Nail matrix nevus (NMN) is one cause of longitudinal melanonychia. The typical dermoscopic patterns of NMNs are well established. However, little is known about how the dermoscopic characteristics of NMNs differ between adults and children. Read More

Skin Appendage Disord 2015 Sep 3;1(2):60-1. Epub 2015 Jun 3.

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.

Cleve Clin J Med 2016 May;83(5):385-91

Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.

Nail lines are a common presenting finding. A thorough inspection of the fingernails and toenails is an integral part of the complete physical examination. An understanding of basic nail anatomy and familiarity with several basic types of nail line enable the clinician to diagnose and treat nail disorders and to recognize underlying systemic diseases, as each type of nail line has a particular differential diagnosis. Read More

Dermatol Surg 2016 Feb;42(2):183-90

Departments of *Dermatology and †Pathology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Racial melanonychia striata is a nail plate dyschromia described as a gray coloration of the background in dermatoscopy and hypermelanosis in histology. However, many cases with brown or black coloration of the background in the dermatoscopic examination have been followed.

Objective: Evaluate racial melanonychia striata dermatoscopical patterns and histological diagnosis in Fitzpatrick skin Types IV, V, or VI population. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Jun 30;74(6):1121-7. Epub 2016 Jan 30.

Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea; Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Melanonychia may be the presenting sign of ungual melanoma. However, there are insufficient basic clinical data for melanonychia in Korean patients.

Objective: We sought to identify basic clinical data and devise a classification algorithm for melanonychia. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2016 06;96(5):716-7

Department of Dermatology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan.

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2016 Jan 12;143(1):53-60; quiz 51-2. Epub 2016 Jan 12.

Service de dermatologie, hôpital Bichat, 46, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France.

Skinmed 2015 1;13(5):410. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Department of Dermatology, Section of Mycology, Manuel Gea Gonzalez General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.

Skinmed 2015 1;13(5):410. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Greater Miami Skin and Laser Center, Miami Beach, FL;

BMJ Case Rep 2015 Dec 10;2015. Epub 2015 Dec 10.

Department of General Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Department of Surgical Oncology, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Prim Care 2015 Dec;42(4):677-91

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address:

A variety of nail deformities commonly presents in the primary care office. An understanding of nail anatomy coupled with inspection of the nails at routine office visits can reveal undetected disorders. Some problems are benign, and treatment should be attempted by the primary care provider, such as onychomycosis, paronychia, or ingrown toenails. Read More

Prim Care 2015 Dec;42(4):645-59

Albion Family Clinic & Walkin, Unit 309-1620, Albion Road, Etobicoke, ON M9V4B4, Canada. Electronic address:

Skin cancer accounts for most malignancies across the globe. They are primarily divided into melanoma and nonmelanoma skin malignancies. Nonmelanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Read More

Trop Doct 2016 Jul 3;46(3):168-9. Epub 2015 Nov 3.

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences (University of Delhi) and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2016 Mar 27;74(3):521-6. Epub 2015 Oct 27.

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. Electronic address:

Background: Onychopapilloma is a benign neoplasm of the nail bed and the distal matrix. Although not uncommon in our experience, only up to 32 cases of this tumor have been reported in the literature.

Objective: We sought to review the clinical, dermoscopic, and pathologic features of onychopapilloma. Read More

Clin Exp Dermatol 2016 Apr 28;41(3):294-6. Epub 2015 Oct 28.

Department of Dermatology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is a rare acquired disorder characterized by macu-lar pigmentation of the lips and oral mucosa, with frequent longitudinal melanonychia. Involvement of other areas, such as the genitalia and fingers, has rarely been described. LHS is a benign condition with no known systemic manifestations. Read More