Treatment Options For Subungual Melanoma

Subungual melanoma describes a form of malignancy that develops in the cells under the fingernail or toenail. When carcinogenesis takes place in cells that contain skin pigments or melanocytes, it is called melanoma. Subungual melanoma is not usually related to excessive sun exposure, unlike other types of melanoma. Subungual melanoma is not diagnosed in its early stages in most cases because the population is not very aware of this form of cancer. Subungual melanoma appears similar to a blood blister or a bruise that forms under the nail following an injury. However, subungual melanoma spots do not grow out with the nail the same way bruising and blood blisters would. Other indications of subungual melanoma that help distinguish it from bruising are cracking, thinning, splitting, and distortion of the nail plate.