title: Life-threatening onychomycosis imitator.
abstract: Although onychomycosis is one of the most common dermatological conditions, the exact diagnosis should be carefully confirmed, especially in therapy-resistant cases. Considering the potential for development of various nail disorders that could resemble the clinical picture of typical onychomycosis, the performing of a diagnostic biopsy is sometimes of paramount importance, in order to exclude the possibility of a life threatening onychomycosis imitators. Here, we present a case of subungual malignant melanoma, diagnosed by histological examination in a patient who had received long term, ineffective treatment for onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Onkoderma-Policlinic for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Sofia Bulgaria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chokoeva
authors.affiliation: Policlinic for Dermatology and Venereology, Saint Kliment Ohridski University, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Lozenetz, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tchernev
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chair of Dermatology, University of Rome "G. Marconi", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina