Subungual melanoma: An important tip

Sonography of the Nail

“…This type of melanoma shows a 5-year survival rate that is disproportionately poor (25-51 %) compared with other histological subtypes, and can be the result of delay in the diagnosis that can generate a more advanced or aggressive form at presentation [ 81 ] . Ungual melanoma (UM) is uncommon, and composes 1-13 % of all acral lentiginous melanomas, accounting for 0.7-3.5 % of all cutaneous melanomas.…”

Naevoid melanoma masquerading as small cell carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology of an axillary metastasis

“…Although naevoid melanoma is comparable with conventional melanoma in terms of clinical behaviour and prognosis, 1 acral lentiginous melanomas generally have a worse prognosis, attributed to more advanced presentation. 2 Our case was 2.4 mm thick at presentation and metastasized 1 year later. 'Naevoid melanoma' refers to a family of tumours that can mimic benign melanocytic naevi, and includes small cell melanoma.…”

Current Management of Malignant Melanoma: State of the Art

“…Overall 5 year survival is disproportionately poor (25-51%) compared to other histological subtypes [71].…”

“…It may manifest as diffuse nail discoloration, a longitidunal pigmented band (melanonychia striata) within the nail plate or growth in the nail bed. Furthermore, 20% of subungual malignant melanomas may present with amelanocytic lesions rather than melanonychia [7,71].…”

“…The Acral lentiginous melanoma, the most common clinicohistologic type of acral melanoma, shares some histologic features with LMM but differs from LMM in its younger age at onset, its anatomic site, the absence of chronic sun exposure, and the greater depth of penetration at diagnosis [71].…”