title: Transverse leukonychia in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: Transverse white nail banding can be inherited or caused by a variety of diseases and medications, including cancer chemotherapeutic agents. We report three cases in which patients with cancer had antineoplastic therapy-induced transverse leukonychia and summarize previously published reports. There is no specific cancer chemotherapeutic drug, combination of drugs, or drug class that causes transverse leukonychia; however, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine are the therapeutic agents most frequently involved. For patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, white transverse nail banding is a side effect of the medication rather than a consequence of underlying malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School 77030, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*