Subungual Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Left Fourth Finger: A Case Report / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Subungual squamous cell carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor. It may clinically mimic a variety of benign inflammatory lesions and this frequently misdirects the clinician toward delaying proper treatment. In this article, a 62-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of repeat swelling, erythema and severe pain on the left fourth fingernail. She had been frequently treated under the clinical impression of paronychia or onychomycosis. Despite the treatment, no improvement was noted. She had an incisional biopsy of the perionychium. The histologic diagnosis was revealed invasive, well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. On the whole body PET-CT, hypermetabolic lesion was found in the distal phalanx of the left fourth finger. She underwent amputation at the distal phalangeal joint. There has been no recurrence of tumor for one year after surgery. In conclusion, subungual squamous cell carcinoma is often mistaken for chronic inflammation. When resistance to treatments is observed, the possibility of malignancy must be considered and early biopsy is recommended.