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Home » Topics A–Z » Melanoma of nail unit
Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2011.
Melanoma of the nail unit is usually a variant of acral lentiginous melanoma (melanoma arising on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet). Other types of melanoma rarely arising under the nails are nodular melanoma and desmoplastic melanoma.
Melanoma of the nail unit usually affects either a thumbnail or great toenail, but any finger or toenail may be involved. The term includes:
Melanoma of the nail unit is rare, accounting for only about 1% melanoma in white-skinned individuals. It arises in people of all races, whatever their skin colour. Although no more common in dark skin than fair skin, it is the most common type of melanoma diagnosed in deeply pigmented individuals. It is most diagnosed between the age of 40 and 70 [1].
It is not thought to be due to sun exposure. Trauma may be a factor, accounting for the greater incidence in the great toe and thumb.
Management of melanoma is evolving. For up to date recommendations, refer to the Australian Cancer Council Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of melanoma
Subungual melanoma often starts as a pigmented band visible the length of the nail plate (melanonychia). Over weeks to months, the pigment band:
However, in up to half of all cases, subungual melanoma is amelanotic (not pigmented). Ungual melanoma can form a nodule under the nail plate, lifting it (onycholysis). It may sometimes look like a wart (verrucous). It is usually painless, but an advanced tumour invading underlying bone may cause severe pain.
A melanocytic naevus of the nail matrix results in a pigmented band (melanonychia). This tends to be narrower than 3 mm (but can be wider) and a uniform brown or dark brown colour. Benign pigmentation observed in the cuticle, or proximal nail fold is referred to as pseudo-Hutchinson sign.
Melanoma of the nail unit
See more images of melanoma of the nail unit.
Subungual melanoma may be suspected clinically because of a wide (> 3 mm) new or changing pigment band in a single nail. The dermatoscopic examination may reveal more details showing pigmented lines of varying colour, width and spacing. These lines tend to lose their usual tendency to run parallel to each other along the length of the nail. Ungual melanoma forms a non-pigmented lump under the nail plate, eventually resulting in its destruction.
The diagnosis of melanoma is confirmed by biopsy of the nail matrix and nail bed. It can be a difficult diagnosis requiring examination by expert dermatopathologists. The pathologist should report whether the melanoma is in-situ or invasive. The description of invasive melanoma should include its thickness in millimetres and what level of tissue has been invaded.
If the clinical diagnosis is a subungual haematoma (a purple mark under the nail due to bleeding or bruising), the nail may be observed for a few weeks. Normal-appearing nail should then be seen growing behind the mark. Dermoscopy is helpful, as haematoma does not conform to the band-like pattern of subungual melanoma. However, it must be remembered that melanoma may bleed.
Other diagnoses that are often considered include onychomycosis (fungal infection), paronychia, pyogenic granuloma and squamous cell carcinoma. See also subungual melanoma pathology.
Lee et al have suggested ABCD nail criteria to diagnose subungual melanoma in situ when a patient presents with longitudinal melanonychia. The diagnosis was confirmed in their 26 patients with subungual melanoma in situ and 28 patients with nail matrix naevi [2].
Levit et al described ABCDEF guidelines to assess pigmented nail lesions [3].
In the International Dermoscopy Society survey evaluating dermoscopic clues in pigmented nail bands, melanoma cases were significantly associated with [4]:
Granular pigmentation, a newly defined dermoscopic criterion, was found in 40% of melanomas and only in 3.51% of benign lesions. The dermoscopic feature of any pigmentation in the hyponychia (the distal pulp of the finger under the nail plate) is parallel pigmented lines on the ridges (in contrast to naevi in which the pigmentation affects furrows or may be diffuse).
The melanoma must be removed surgically. This requires removal of the entire nail apparatus. Sometimes the end of the finger or toe is amputated.
Some patients may be offered sentinel node biopsy to determine whether the melanoma has spread to local lymph nodes.
The main factor associated with the risk of spread of melanoma (metastasis) and death is the thickness of the melanoma at the time of complete excision of the primary tumour. Delay in diagnosis is common with subungual melanoma, particularly when it affects the toe, and some of these tumours have already spread at the time of diagnosis.
The 5-year survival rate ranges widely from 16% to 87%, depending on the series, with two larger series in the 51% to 55% range [5].
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