Onychomatricoma

Onychomatricoma is a rare benign tumor of the nail matrix that was first described in 1992 by Baran and Kint. It is characterized by a slow-growing, painless, thickened nail plate with splinter hemorrhages and xanthonychia. The tumor is often misdiagnosed due to its rarity and lack of awareness among clinicians.

Clinical Presentation

Patients with onychomatricoma typically present with a slow-growing, thickened nail plate that may be associated with pain. The nail plate often shows longitudinal ridging and splitting, with splinter hemorrhages and xanthonychia. The nail may also be deformed or partially destroyed.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of onychomatricoma is often challenging due to its rarity and the lack of specific clinical features. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by histopathology following a nail biopsy. Histologically, the tumor is characterized by the presence of fibroepithelial papillae and a thickened nail matrix.

Treatment

The treatment of choice for onychomatricoma is complete surgical excision of the tumor. This usually results in a cure, although recurrence has been reported in some cases.

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with onychomatricoma is generally good, as the tumor is benign and does not metastasize. However, the tumor can cause significant morbidity due to its effects on the nail and the potential for recurrence.

See Also

• Nail Diseases
• Nail Tumors
• Benign Tumors

References

• Baran R, Kint A. Onychomatricoma. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;26(2 Pt 1):247-250.
• Perrin C, Baran R, Pisani A, et al. The onychomatricoma: additional histologic criteria and immunohistochemical study. Am J Dermatopathol. 2002;24(3):199-203.

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