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Diagnosed With Melanonychia. Is Biopsy Needed?

Posted on Tue, 22 Jan 2013

Question: Hi, i went to a skin doctor to look at my nails which had bands.. he took a biopsy of the nail and came back benign. THEY CALLED IT MELANICHIA then he called me and asked me to go to a orthopedic and get a biopsy of the matrix. I went to the orthopedic and he told me not to to the biOPsy that it was not necessary.

Answered by Dr. Sudarshan (1 hour later)

Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
The presence of pigmented bands over nails is called longitudinal melononychia.
It is a common and harmless condition.
It is a clinical diagnosis and biopsy is not needed.
Only differential of this is Subungual melanoma.it is a type of skin cancer.Its appearance is however different.It is characterized by pigmentation of lateral nail fold.
If you can upload the photographs of the affected nail it would be of great help.
Upload the photographs and we can continue the discussion here.
I would be available for follow up.
Regards.
Dr Sudarshan
MD dermatologist.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudarshan (6 hours later)

being that i went to an orthopedic for a biopsy of the matrix he told me no. that it was not necessary... what do you think. he said that this was a condition. That he seen many of these..in different patients.. do they know what they are looking for

Answered by Dr. Sudarshan (16 hours later)

Hi again,
As discussed previously if you have LONGITUDINAL MELANONYCHIA, it is benign condition and biopsy is not needed.It is common change in nails and it does not need treatment.
If you need any further clarification please let me know.
Hope this helps.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar