linear nail pigmentation
Last reviewed 11/2022
Longitudinal pigmentation of the nail bed is a normal finding in dark-skinned individuals. These should be differentiated from subungual melanomas which comprises around 50% of melanomas in this population (1)
In Caucasians it may indicate:
- reported to be occur
in association with (2):
- acanthosis nigricans
- Addison's disease
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- AIDS
- other associations (3):
- pituitary tumours
- effects of cytotoxic drugs
- malnutrition, especially vitamin B12 deficiency
- or, if noted in a single nail, may indicate a naevus or possibly a malignant melanoma
Reference:
- (1) Fawcett RS et al. Nail Abnormalities: Clues to Systemic Disease. AFP 2004; 69(6)
- (2) Zaiac MN, Daniel CR. Nails in systemic disease Dermatologic Therapy 2002;15 (2); 99?106.
- (3) Baran B. Nail Disorders. Medicine International 1992; 102: 4309.