Melanonychia: the importance of dermatoscopic examination and of nail matrix / bed observation.
Melanonychia, from the Greek mélaina, means black and is the result of an increased deposition of melanin on the nail plate, originating in the nail matrix. It may have different causes, including subungueal melanoma, making early etiologic diagnosis very important.
Bilemjian
Aline Perdiz de Jesus
AP
Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay of Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. alinebilemjian@yahoo.com.br
Piñeiro-Maceira
Juan
J
Barcaui
Carlos Baptista
CB
Pereira
Francisco Burnier
FB
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*