TY - JOUR
T1 - Nail matrix nevi
T2 - A clinical and histopathologic study of twenty-two patients
AU - Tosti, Antonella
AU - Baran, Robert
AU - Piraccini, Bianca Maria
AU - Cameli, Norma
AU - Fanti, Pier Alessandro
PY - 1996/5
Y1 - 1996/5
N2 - Background: Because most dermatologists do not regularly perform biopsies of longitudinal melanonychia, even when the pigmentation presents as a single band, the true prevalence of nail matrix nevi is unknown. Objective: Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of nail matrix nevi in white patients with longitudinal melanonychia involving a single digit and to determine whether longitudinal melanonychia caused by a nail matrix nevus can be clinically distinguished from longitudinal melanonychia from other causes. Methods: From January 1989 to December 1994 we performed a nail biopsy on 100 of 128 consecutive white patients who had a single band of 'idiopathic' longitudinal melanonychia. Results: A nail matrix nevus was detected in 22 patients. A junctional nevus was found in 19 specimens and a compound nevus in three specimens. Conclusion: Nail matrix nevi in Caucasian patients are uncommon but not exceptional. The number of nevi presenting with longitudinal melanonychia exceeded that of melanoma. The diagnosis of nail matrix nevi is impossible clinically and always requires histopathologic study. The pathologic features of nail matrix nevi are similar to those of skin nevi except for their architectural pattern, which reflects the peculiar anatomy of the nail unit.
AB - Background: Because most dermatologists do not regularly perform biopsies of longitudinal melanonychia, even when the pigmentation presents as a single band, the true prevalence of nail matrix nevi is unknown. Objective: Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of nail matrix nevi in white patients with longitudinal melanonychia involving a single digit and to determine whether longitudinal melanonychia caused by a nail matrix nevus can be clinically distinguished from longitudinal melanonychia from other causes. Methods: From January 1989 to December 1994 we performed a nail biopsy on 100 of 128 consecutive white patients who had a single band of 'idiopathic' longitudinal melanonychia. Results: A nail matrix nevus was detected in 22 patients. A junctional nevus was found in 19 specimens and a compound nevus in three specimens. Conclusion: Nail matrix nevi in Caucasian patients are uncommon but not exceptional. The number of nevi presenting with longitudinal melanonychia exceeded that of melanoma. The diagnosis of nail matrix nevi is impossible clinically and always requires histopathologic study. The pathologic features of nail matrix nevi are similar to those of skin nevi except for their architectural pattern, which reflects the peculiar anatomy of the nail unit.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0190-9622(96)90010-9
DO - 10.1016/S0190-9622(96)90010-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 8632071
AN - SCOPUS:0029997389
VL - 34
SP - 765
EP - 771
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
SN - 0190-9622
IS - 5 I
ER -