title: Longitudinal melanonychia: detection and management of nail melanoma.
abstract: Malignant melanoma of the nail confers a higher mortality rate compared to other cutaneous melanomas, which is often attributable to delayed diagnosis. Two-thirds of nail melanomas present as longitudinal melanonychia (LM), longitudinally-oriented brown-black bands of pigment in the nail plate. This article delineates the appropriate clinical approach toward evaluation and management of a patient with longitudinal melanonychia, which includes determining risk factors for melanoma, recognizing scenarios in which biopsy is indicated, selecting the appropriate biopsy technique, and managing a patient in whom the diagnosis of nail melanoma has been made.
authors: Department of Dermatology, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. smannava@wakehealth.edu
authors: Kathleen A
authors: KA
authors: Mannava
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Mannava
authors: L Andrew
authors: LA
authors: Koman
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Robinson-Bostom
authors: Nathaniel
authors: N
authors: Jellinek
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*