Diagnosis and management of nail pigmentations Journal Article


Authors: Braun, R. P.; Baran, R.; Le Gal, F. A.; Dalle, S.; Ronger, S.; Pandolfi, R.; Gaide, O.; French, L. E.; Laugier, P.; Saurat, J. H.; Marghoob, A. A.; Thomas, L.
Article Title: Diagnosis and management of nail pigmentations
Abstract: Longitudinal pigmentation of the nail is very common. The differential diagnosis varies from subungual hematoma, to a fungal infection, to a melanocytic lesion (lentigo, nevus melanoma, etc.) to others. Often, dermatologists do not feel at ease with these pathologies and management is often not clear. In many cases, a biopsy is not helpful because an inadequate technique was chosen. The use of noninvasive techniques such as dermoscopy has been described to be useful for the preoperative evaluation and the management decision. Using these technique, one will be able to reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries and to choose the most adequate biopsy technique. In this article, we will review the management, including diagnosis as well as differential diagnosis of nail pigmentations and propose a new algorithm for the non invasive diagnosis of nail pigmentation. © 2007 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Keywords: histopathology; review; anamnesis; preoperative evaluation; medical decision making; melanoma; dermoscopy; skin pigmentation; nevus; diagnosis, differential; differential diagnosis; diagnostic approach route; biopsy; epiluminescence microscopy; algorithm; pigmentation disorders; nail pigmentation; physical examination; hematoma; mycosis; melanosis; lentigo; nail diseases
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 56
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0190-9622
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2007-05-01
Start Page: 835
End Page: 847
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2006.12.021
PUBMED: 17320240
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 45" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: JAADD" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Ashfaq A Marghoob
    534 Marghoob
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