title: Nail unit tumors: a study of 234 patients in the dermatology department of the "Dr Manuel Gea González" General Hospital in Mexico City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency of nail unit tumors is not well known because they are often misdiagnosed, and the clinical appearance of benign and malignant tumors is not characteristic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 234 patients from the dermatology department of a general hospital in Mexico City were included in this study, from January 1982 to November 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumors most frequently diagnosed were fibrous tumors (29.05%), osteocartilaginous tumors (21.79%), and myxoid pseudocysts (11.96%). Malignant melanoma occupied the fourth place (9.82%), and the second most frequent malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 4.70%). Among other tumors were glomus, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of tendon sheath, and pyogenic granulomas. The nail plate was affected in 46.5% of the cases studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study in a Mexican population sheds light on the frequency and the alterations produced by nail unit tumors, which we must keep in mind for a more accurate diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Dermatologic Surgery Department, Dr Manuel Gea González General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico. judom59@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Cherit
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chanussot-Deprez
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maria-Sarti
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fonte-Avalos
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vega-Memije
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luis-Montoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult