The yellow nail syndrome is an uncommon condition characterised by dystrophic nails, pulmonary disturbances and lymph oedema. In Brazil as well as in India, this syndrome has been scarcely described, at least in part due to diagnosis pitfalls related with darker skin pigmentation. A case of adnexal malignancy developing several decades after initial signs of yellow nail syndrome is reported in a 61-year-old Brazilian female admitted for evaluation of peripheral oedema. She reported recurrent sinusitis and bronchitis, and three antecedent pneumonias. Physical examination showed yellow thickened nails and lower limb oedema, and a painless huge adnexal mass. Diverse tumours have been described associated with yellow nail syndrome; however, associations can also occur by chance. The present report attempts to raise the awareness about casual co-existence of malignancy and the syndrome.

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