Longitudinal melanonychia is the main sign of subungual melanoma, considering that 2/3-3/4 of subungual melanoma clinically present as longitudinal melanonychia . Melanonychia in melanoma has several characteristic features. The width of melanonychia is a very important marker of melanoma. A variation in width is generally observed.
Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) is defined as a brown-to-black band extending from the matrix to the distal nail plate. LM poses a diagnostic challenge due to its broad differential diagnosis ranging from benign etiologies, including exogenous pigment, bacterial and fungal infections, hematoma, melanotic macule, lentigo, nevus, and malignant conditions, including subungual melanoma (SUM).
INTRODUCTION. Longitudinal melanonychia, also called "melanonychia striata," describes a pigmented, brown to black, longitudinal streak of the nail plate due to increased activity of melanocytes or melanocytic hyperplasia in the nail matrix, with increased melanin deposition in the nail plate [].The most common type of longitudinal melanonychia due to melanocytic activation is physiologic ...
Longitudinal melanonychia can also occur due to melanocytic activation by nonmelanocytic benign and malignant tumors such as onychomatricoma, Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, subungual fibrous histiocytoma, verruca vulgaris and subungual keratosis.[11,21]
It commonly presents as a pigmented band arranged lengthwise along the nail unit, and this presentation is known as longitudinal melanonychia or LM. The commonest cause of this band change is benign, increased production of melanin (black pigment) by the cells that produce it called melanocytes. This is common in darker-pigmented individuals.
Melanonychia is brown, gray, or black discoloration of the nail plate that can be caused by many conditions, ranging from benign to malignant. 1 Careful evaluation is needed to rule out melanoma and other malignant causes of nail discoloration. Treatment varies based on the underlying cause. 1 This article describes the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of melanonychia and how to distinguish ...
This growth can be benign or malignant. Share on Pinterest Melanonychia is black or brown discoloration of the nail. It may be longitudinal, as seen here, where it runs along the length of the nail.
Longitudinal melanonychia is not a rare clinical condition. It is mostly characterized by the presence of longitudinal, demarcated, and pigmented bands on the nail unit. ... (Fig. 4) begin with benign longitudinal melanonychia commonly in the form of nail matrix nevi 8, 27. Like melanomas in other parts of the human body, age is an important ...
Melanonychia Symptoms. These are the most common symptoms of melanonychia: Pigmentation band on the nail plate, of brown or black color; Single or multiple nail presence; The longitudinal type starts at the cuticle and ends at the free edge of the nail. Longitudinal melanonychia can be a sign of melanoma, being accompanied by the following:
Melanonychia refers to brown or black discoloration of the nail plate. It may occur in either the fingernails or toenails. It can be benign or malignant. There are different types of melanonychia. The most common type Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source is longitudinal ...
Longitudinal melanonychia can occur due to pigmentation, infection, any disease in the body, or even due to cancer. Know the types, causes, risk factors and treatment of Longitudinal melanonychia. ... Melanocyte hyperplasia is a cause of concern as the melanocytes are more prone to genetic errors and can develop of benign or cancerous conditions.
Longitudinal melanonychia (LM), a brown-black band on 1 or multiple nails, is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Benign LM may be due to exogenous (external, blood, bacterial, mycotic) or endogenous (melanin) pigment.
Thus, longitudinal melanonychia is an umbrella term that describes a particular appearance to a fingernail or toenail. “It can vary in width and color,” says Dr. Husain. “There are many causes of benign longitudinal melanonychia including genetic, trauma-induced, and benign moles.”
Nail matrix nevus: This benign condition presents as a light brown to black longitudinal band, about 3 to 5 millimeters (mm) wide. It is the most common cause of melanonychia in children.
Longitudinal melanonychia is most often benign and arises from a pigmented melanocytic nevus (a mole) or a lentigo (a freckle). However, a band of brown pigment in a single nail must be examined and investigated with caution, as melanonychia may be the presenting sign of melanoma of the nail unit.