Atypical Presentation of Subungal Melanoma.
10.12790/jkssh.2017.22.1.68
- Author:
Seung Hwan HWANG
1
;
Sujin BAHK
;
SuRak EO
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, DongGuk University Graduate School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sreodoc@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Fingers;
Melanoma;
Atypical forms
- MeSH:
Aged, 80 and over;
Biopsy;
Diagnosis;
Female;
Fingers;
Humans;
Melanoma*;
Pigmentation;
Skin;
Thumb
- From:Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand
2017;22(1):68-72
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Malignant melanomas sometimes present with nail or periungual pigmentation, as a subungual melanoma. This pigmentation also occurs in nonmelanoma skin disorders. Therefore, biopsy is mandatory for the absolute diagnosis. We present an atypical presentation of subungual melanoma in an 81-year-old female patient with no specific periungual pigmentation. She suffered from a crushing injury in her right thumb 2 years ago and had undergone repetitive stump plasty at a local clinic. Recently, she felt intermittent pain at the thumb tip. During the revisional stump plasty, we unexpectedly noted a spread out of dark colored soft tissues the distal phalanx. Pathological examination revealed subungual malignant melanoma. This unusual form of melanoma has a predilection for an acral location, particularly the paronychial region. Even when small pigments are found on the periungual area, careful examination and identification of a component of melanoma is necessary in order to not miss any malignant finger lesion.
