title: Subungual melanoma: a deceptive disorder.
abstract: Subungual melanoma is an uncommon form of acral melanoma that arises within the nail bed. The incidence for acral melanomas is similar worldwide, but the proportion is higher in dark-skinned individuals. The subungual form represents about 2% of cutaneous non-sun induced melanomas in the western world, and up to 75% in Africans, 10% in Japanese, and 25% in the Chinese of Hong Kong. Up to 33% of subungual melanomas are amelanotic. Black pigmentation of the adjacent nail fold, termed Hutchinson's sign, may be a diagnostic clue. Non-specific features and symptoms along with a high incidence of amelanosis often lead to delayed diagnosis, disease progression, and a poor prognosis with challenging treatment options.
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Gopal A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Gangaram
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragi
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krysicki
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy