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Pigmented Lesions of the Nail Apparatus

  • Chapter
Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Melanoma

Abstract

Biopsy of the nail unit is often undertaken for the evaluation of irregular pigmentation, especially longitudinal melanonychia (pigmented bands). There are a variety of barriers to arriving at a diagnostic conclusion, however. The nail plate covers the source of the pigmentation. Clinical cues can thus be misleading. There may be a lack of familiarity with nail anatomy and biopsy techniques on the part of the clinician. Suboptimal specimens may thus result. Many pathologists also lack familiarity with normal nail unit histology and pathology, and many pathology laboratories lack experience with respect to handling of these specimens, which often contain both delicate tissue and a hard nail plate, leading to technical shortcomings.

Adapted from Ruben BS. Pigmented lesions of the nail unit: clinical and histopathologic features. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2010;29(3):148–158.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, 1701 Divisadero Street, Suite 280, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA

    Beth S. Ruben MD

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  1. Beth S. Ruben MD
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Correspondence to Beth S. Ruben MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Raymond L. Barnhill

  2. University of Washington and Dermatopathology Northwest PLLC, Bellevue, Washington, USA

    Michael W. Piepkorn

  3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    Klaus J. Busam

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Ruben, B.S. (2014). Pigmented Lesions of the Nail Apparatus. In: Barnhill, R., Piepkorn, M., Busam, K. (eds) Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Melanoma. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38385-4_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38385-4_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38384-7

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