Nail unit tumors: a study of 234 patients in the dermatology department of the "Dr Manuel Gea González" General Hospital in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND

The frequency of nail unit tumors is not well known because they are often misdiagnosed, and the clinical appearance of benign and malignant tumors is not characteristic.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total of 234 patients from the dermatology department of a general hospital in Mexico City were included in this study, from January 1982 to November 2006.

RESULTS

The tumors most frequently diagnosed were fibrous tumors (29.05%), osteocartilaginous tumors (21.79%), and myxoid pseudocysts (11.96%). Malignant melanoma occupied the fourth place (9.82%), and the second most frequent malignant tumor was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 4.70%). Among other tumors were glomus, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of tendon sheath, and pyogenic granulomas. The nail plate was affected in 46.5% of the cases studied.

CONCLUSION

This study in a Mexican population sheds light on the frequency and the alterations produced by nail unit tumors, which we must keep in mind for a more accurate diagnosis.