Nail apparatus melanoma

Nail apparatus melanoma is a relatively rare variant of melanoma with a disproportionately high mortality when compared with melanoma elsewhere. The aetiology and natural history remain poorly understood. There is no clear epidemiological association with race, skin type or sun exposure. Universally...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralasian journal of dermatology Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 71 - 83
Main Authors THAI, Keng-Ee, YOUNG, Richard, SINCLAIR, Rodney D
Format Conference Proceeding Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Victoria Blackwell 01.05.2001
Subjects
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Dermatology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Medical sciences
Melanoma - diagnosis
Melanoma - epidemiology
Melanoma - surgery
Middle Aged
Nails
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis
Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology
Skin Neoplasms - surgery
Survival Rate
Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
Australia
Oceania
Human
Symptomatology
Skin disease
Nail(anatomy)
Prognosis
Treatment
Malignant melanoma
Malignant tumor
Epidemiology
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Summary:Nail apparatus melanoma is a relatively rare variant of melanoma with a disproportionately high mortality when compared with melanoma elsewhere. The aetiology and natural history remain poorly understood. There is no clear epidemiological association with race, skin type or sun exposure. Universally accepted clinical and histological criteria for the diagnosis of early nail apparatus melanoma have not been defined. The two cardinal clinical signs are melanonychia striata and Hutchinson's sign. These are useful but not pathognomonic of melanoma. Diagnostic delay is frequent and patients commonly have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Surgical excision is advocated for treatment of stage I disease; however, the most appropriate re-excision margins, including the level of amputation where required, have not been determined. Early diagnosis and excision of the tumour is the only treatment known to increase survival. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy, isolated limb perfusion, and routine elective lymph node dissection have been used, but no survival benefit has been demonstrated.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0004-8380
1440-0960