title: A clinical, histopathologic, and outcome study of melanonychia striata in childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current literature suggests that approximately 5% to 10% of melanonychia striata cases in adults are the result of subungual melanoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic features and to determine the outcomes and causes of melanonychia striata in a cohort of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 30 childhood cases of melanonychia striata for features typically associated with melanoma such as Hutchinson sign, width of the pigmented band, evolution, color, and nail dystrophy. We assessed the histopathology of lesional biopsy specimens, including melanocyte counts and suprabasal movement of melanocytes. Clinical follow-up information was reviewed when available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic diagnoses included subungual lentigo in 20 cases, subungual nevus in 5 cases, and atypical melanocytic hyperplasia in 5 cases. Although a number of cases exhibited worrisome clinical or histopathologic features, none showed evidence of aggressive behavior or warranted a diagnosis of melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sample size and follow-up times are limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melanonychia striata is typically associated with benign stable melanocytic proliferations in childhood. The overwhelming majority of cases can be managed conservatively. Biopsy is required in select cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Nicoleta C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Arva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yélamos
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obregon
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sholl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitart
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: Pedram.Gerami@nmff.org.
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerami
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009262:Nails; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: longitudinal melanonychia; melanonychia striata; subungual lentigo; subungual melanoma; subungual nevus