Three Cases of Nail Matrix Nevus in Children

Han, Won Suk; Kim, Jeong Aee; Moon, Sang Eun; Cho, Kwang Hyun; Eun, Hee Chul

Abstract

Melanonychia is a pigmented nail plate. It can be produced by so many agents and diseases that it is often impossible to differentiate from one another by history and clinical examination alone. So, a nail biopsy is often required especially to exclude subungual melanoma. Herein, we reported 3 children with melanonychia. Junctional nevus in nail matrix was the cause of their melanonychia, although their lesions were suggestive of subungual melanoma by showing Hutchinson's sign, discoloration of total nail plate and destruction of nail plate, respectively. Considering the rarity of subungual melanoma in childhood and the higher risk of permanent nail deformity after nail matrix biopsy in young children, regular observation is recommended even if the melanonychia mimic subungual melanoma clinically.