Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color.
Subungual melanomas can occur on any of the fingernails or toenails.
Symptoms
Subungual melanomas usually appear asdarkened streaks that run longitudinally(perpendicular to the cuticle).
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Roughly half of these streaks are brown, blue, or black, while the other half are non-pigmented.
As cancer progresses, more streaks may appear, often with different colors.
As time progresses, the portion closest to the cuticle may become wider.
Ultimately, a visual examination has its limitations, especially since subungual melanoma is so infrequently seen.
This may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
To determine whether the melanoma has metastasized, there are various tests the oncologist can perform.
They include:
Treatment
The treatment of subungual melanomas has changed considerably in recent years.
In the past, amputation of the entire toe or finger was considered the treatment of choice.
Today, many subungual melanomas are treated more conservatively with only the local removal of the tumor.
When amputation is indicated, it often involves only the first joint nearest the fingernail.
For toenails, amputation to the second joint is more common.
Moreover, complete amputation was not shown to improve survival times in people with a subungual melanoma.
Early intervention is the surest way to achieve treatment success.
While having an excellent care team around you is important,youremain the most important facet of that team.
Learn as much as you’re able to about your cancer.
Ask for and accept help.
Become involved with online support communities that can share their experiences and insights.
Chakera AH, Quinn MJ, Lo S, et al.Subungual melanoma of the hand.Ann Surg Oncol.
2017;70(12):1746-1752. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2017.08.001
American Academy of Dermatology.How to check your nails for melanoma.
Wollina U, Nenoff P, Haroske G, Haenssle HA.The diagnosis and treatment of nail disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int.
2021;43(1):147-154. doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20200702-00620
