Ana F Duarte1, Osvaldo Correia, Ana M Barros, Filipa Ventura, Eckart Haneke. 1. *Centro de Dermatologia Epidermis, Instituto CUF, Porto, Portugal; †Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; ‡Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; §Dermatology Clinic Dermaticum, Freiburg, Germany; ‖Department of Dermatology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nail unit melanoma (NUM) is a variant of acral lentiginous melanoma. The differential diagnosis is wide but an acquired brown streak in the nail of a fair-skinned adult person must be considered a potential melanoma. Dermoscopy helps clinicians to more accurately decide if a nail apparatus biopsy is necessary. OBJECTIVE: Detailed evaluation of clinical and dermoscopy features and description of conservative surgery of in situ NUM. METHODS: Retrospective study of in situ NUM diagnosed and treated with conservative surgical management in the authors' center from 2008 to 2013. RESULTS: Six cases of NUM were identified: 2 male and 4 female patients, age range at diagnosis of 44 to 76 years. All patients underwent complete nail unit removal with at least 6-mm security margins around the anatomic boundaries of the nail. The follow-up varies from 4 to 62 months. CONCLUSION: Nail unit melanomas pose a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Wide excision is sufficient, whereas phalanx amputation is unnecessary and associated with significant morbidity for patients with in situ or early invasive melanoma. Full-thickness skin grafting or second-intention healing after total nail unit excision is a simple procedure providing a good functional and cosmetic outcome.
BACKGROUND: Nail unit melanoma (NUM) is a variant of acral lentiginous melanoma. The differential diagnosis is wide but an acquired brown streak in the nail of a fair-skinned adult person must be considered a potential melanoma. Dermoscopy helps clinicians to more accurately decide if a nail apparatus biopsy is necessary. OBJECTIVE: Detailed evaluation of clinical and dermoscopy features and description of conservative surgery of in situ NUM. METHODS: Retrospective study of in situ NUM diagnosed and treated with conservative surgical management in the authors' center from 2008 to 2013. RESULTS: Six cases of NUM were identified: 2 male and 4 female patients, age range at diagnosis of 44 to 76 years. All patients underwent complete nail unit removal with at least 6-mm security margins around the anatomic boundaries of the nail. The follow-up varies from 4 to 62 months. CONCLUSION: Nail unit melanomas pose a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Wide excision is sufficient, whereas phalanx amputation is unnecessary and associated with significant morbidity for patients with in situ or early invasive melanoma. Full-thickness skin grafting or second-intention healing after total nail unit excision is a simple procedure providing a good functional and cosmetic outcome.