Yellow nail syndrome. Possible association with malignancy.

A dramatic resolution of yellow nail deformity occurred in a 66-year-old man shortly after the removal of a carcinoma of the larynx. Seventeen months later, a productive cough developed and radiologic evidence of bronchiectasis was found. There was no evidence of lymphedema, pleural effusion, sinusitis, or immunologic abnormalities. At least three other patients with a variant of yellow nail syndrome have died of malignancy. Therefore, the resolution of the nail deformity following laryngectomy may not be fortuitous.