Melanotic macule of nail unit and its clinicopathologic spectrum.
The clinical and histologic spectrum of melanotic macule of the nail unit is examined and the differences in the clinical appearance of longitudinal melanochychia caused by melanotic macule and by other kinds of proliferations of melanocytes are assessed. We observed that the clinical appearance of the pigmented band was of little help in establishing the underlying basic pathologic process. This underscores the importance of obtaining a biopsy of the nail matrix in patients who present with solitary longitudinal melanonychia.
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. sh28@columbia.edu
Sameera
S
Husain
Richard K
RK
Scher
David N
DN
Silvers
A Bernard
AB
Ackerman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology