Florence Dehavay1, Sophie Goettmann2, Ines Zaraa3, Isabelle Moulonguet4, Josette André1, Marie Caucanas5, Robert Baran6, Bertrand Richert1. 1. St Pierre, Brugmann and Children's University Hospitals, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium. 2. Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Bichat - Claude Bernard, Paris, France. 3. Dermatology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint Joseph, Paris, France. 4. Department of Dermatopathology, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France. 5. Clinique Saint-Exupery, Toulouse, France. 6. Nail Disease Center, Cannes, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Blue nevus of the nail apparatus is a rare entity and only isolated cases are reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to better characterize blue nevus at the nail unit. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all nail unit blue nevi from the Nail Group of the French Society of Dermatology was compared to the literature. RESULTS: Eleven cases were retrieved from 2002 to 2019 with an average age of 45 years. The majority were women (9/11) and acquired (10/11). Hands were more frequently involved (9/11) with a predilection for the thumb and 2 cases were located on the hallux. Nail unit blue nevus mostly presented as a well-delimited blue spot of the lunula (9/11) and histologically was of the common type (10/11). There was no malignancy. CONCLUSION: Nail unit blue nevus is a rare asymptomatic benign entity, mostly acquired on the thumb or the hallux of women. The most frequent presentation is a painless blue spot on the lunula. Congenital blue nevi seem to only affect the paronychium. Main differential diagnosis is melanoma and histopathological examination is mandatory.
BACKGROUND: Blue nevus of the nail apparatus is a rare entity and only isolated cases are reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to better characterize blue nevus at the nail unit. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all nail unit blue nevi from the Nail Group of the French Society of Dermatology was compared to the literature. RESULTS: Eleven cases were retrieved from 2002 to 2019 with an average age of 45 years. The majority were women (9/11) and acquired (10/11). Hands were more frequently involved (9/11) with a predilection for the thumb and 2 cases were located on the hallux. Nail unit blue nevus mostly presented as a well-delimited blue spot of the lunula (9/11) and histologically was of the common type (10/11). There was no malignancy. CONCLUSION: Nail unit blue nevus is a rare asymptomatic benign entity, mostly acquired on the thumb or the hallux of women. The most frequent presentation is a painless blue spot on the lunula. Congenital blue nevi seem to only affect the paronychium. Main differential diagnosis is melanoma and histopathological examination is mandatory.
Authors: Jessica Zarah Sugianto; Jonathan Scott Ralston; John S Metcalf; Courtney L McFaddin; M Timothy Smith Journal: Semin Diagn Pathol Date: 2016-04-19 Impact factor: 3.464