Imaging features for the evaluation of skin and nail infections.

Clinical manifestations of dermatological and musculoskeletal conditions can sometimes overlap, leading to confusion in diagnosis. Patients with nail and skin infections may undergo imaging examinations with suspicions of muscle, tendon, or joint injuries. Dermatological infections often involve soft tissues and musculoskeletal structures, and their etiology can range from fungi, bacteria, viruses, to protozoa. Relying solely on physical examination may not be sufficient for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, necessitating the use of complementary imaging exams. The objective of this paper is to present and discuss imaging findings of the main infectious conditions affecting the nail apparatus and skin. The paper also highlights the importance of imaging in clarifying diagnostic uncertainties and guiding appropriate treatment for dermatological conditions.

High-frequency ultrasonography for subungual glomus tumor evaluation - imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: This article aimed to describe the common imaging features of subungual glomus tumors. METHODS: The study involved data collected between January 2019 and December 2022. Twenty-three patients with a total of 31 glomus tumors underwent high-frequency ultrasound examinations with a 24-MHz probe. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated the images, and only data from the more experienced radiologist were used for subsequent analyses. RESULTS: The average size of the tumors was 4.6 mm, and most of them appeared homogeneously hypoechogenic (90.3%). Bone remodeling of the distal phalanx was observed in 87.1% of cases, with an average axial circumference loss of 0.8 mm, indicating the slow and expansive growth of glomus tumors. Intense vascularization was found in 54.8% of cases on Doppler images, and the stalk sign, reflecting the vascular origin of the tumor, was present in 64.5% of cases. The most common clinical feature was pain, reported in 84.6% of cases, with a mean pain scale score of 7.0, indicating a negative impact on patients' lives despite being benign tumors. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that ultrasound evaluation is highly useful for diagnosing glomus tumors, especially when multiple findings, such as bone remodeling, hypervascularization, and the stalk sign, are present. This method allows for accurate diagnosis, observation of periungual structures, and proper surgical planning, ultimately reducing recurrence rates.

Ultrasound imaging of onychopapilloma: Evaluation of 43 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Onychopapilloma is a benign tumor presenting as an isolated benign warty distal matrix and bed lesion in association with longitudinal erythronychia for which no underlying cause can be identified. Diagnosis might be challenging due to other, more severe, causes of erythronychia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the clinical and sonographic features of onychopapilloma using high-frequency ultrasound. METHODS: Between February 2022 and May 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 39 patients displaying clinical features suggestive of onychopapilloma. These patients were selected at random and underwent examination using high-frequency ultrasound. High-frequency ultrasound assessments of the nail unit were carried out using 33 MHz and 24 MHz high-frequency linear transducers. An experienced radiologist performed the ultrasound scans while participants assumed an orthostatic seated position. Subsequently, the collected ultrasound images were independently evaluated by two radiologists specializing in nail injuries, ensuring a blinded assessment. This evaluation aimed to provide comprehensive insights into the imaging characteristics of onychopapilloma. RESULTS: High-frequency ultrasound revealed oval or linear hyperechoic masses located in the middle of the nail plate, without vascularity or posterior acoustic shadowing. Nail plate irregularity, thickening, and nail bed indentation were observed in some cases. These findings demonstrate that high-frequency ultrasound can aid in the diagnosis and surgical planning of onychopapilloma, providing detailed visualization of the lesion and surrounding structures. CONCLUSIONS: This imaging method could represent a potential tool to differentiate onychopapilloma from other nail conditions, especially malignant neoplasms. However, further research is needed to validate these findings and assess long-term outcomes.

Ultrasound of nails: why, how, when.

Nail disorders are frequently a challenge to diagnose correctly only based on clinical findings. Moreover, biopsies may leave scars due to damage to the nail matrix. Currently, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) with probes >15 MHz is the first-choice imaging technique to study the nail. Compared with other imaging tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, HFUS has the advantage of high-resolution imaging of the nail apparatus without exposure to radiation, contrast media, and the risk of claustrophobia of these other expensive imaging methods. Notably, the axial spatial resolution of HFUS is higher than computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging; therefore, it can better discriminate the anatomical alterations. Our objective is to review the main applications of HFUS of the nail through literature analysis and illustration of cases of the most frequent pathologies found in our experience, exemplifying why, how, and when HFUS could help diagnose nail diseases.

Biomodelling and 3D technologies: A novel technique for subungual glomus tumor evaluation.

Subungual glomus tumors often remain undiagnosed for several years with patients seeing an average of 2.5 dermatologists before the diagnosis is confirmed. We describe the use of biomodelling and 3D technologies that allows the detection of tumoral recurrences more easily, as well as providing supplementary information for the radiologist report, such as select anatomical structure analysis, images with 360° rotation and visualization in transparency mode for detailed anatomic analysis.

Histopathological analysis of chronic paronychia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic paronychia is an inflammatory process of the nail folds lasting more than 6 weeks. Clinically, there is hypertrophy and retraction of the folds and absence of the cuticle. Treatment involves clinical measures and, when there is no response or the hypertrophy of the folds is very pronounced, surgical treatment is indicated. Post-surgical histopathology is little studied in the literature. In this sense, we believe that the histopathological study is important not only for the individualized understanding of the patient's chronic disease, avoiding relapses, but also for the understanding of its pathophysiology and treatment possibilities. OBJECTIVE: To describe the histopathological changes found in biopsies of the proximal nail fold of patients with chronic paronychia undergoing surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A histopathological study of 16 nail folds from 6 patients after surgery was performed at 2 study centers. RESULTS: The most prevalent epidermal findings were orthokeratosis, hypergranulosis, acanthosis and spongiosis and the dermal findings were fibrosis and mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. CONCLUSION: The histopathological study allowed us to conclude that chronic paronychia is primarily an inflammatory process, but it is not possible to conclude whether microorganisms such as Candida and bacterial cocci are part of the etiology or just secondary and opportunistic agents.

Description of the most severe signs in nail lichen planus: a strategy to contribute to the diagnosis of the severe stage.

BACKGROUND: Severe nail lichen planus (NLP) does not respond well to treatment and is often poorly considered and described in detail. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the characteristics of severe NLP. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was performed, including the photographic records of the most compromised nails of patients with NLP over 18 years old, who consulted between 2009 and 2019 at the Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Descriptive and statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test was performed to verify the hypothesis of independence between characteristics (P < 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included. Anonychia was associated with severe thinning of the nail plate, retraction of the nail bed or nail plate, residual nail plate, loss of proximal nail fold limits, and onychoatrophy. Dorsal pterygium was associated with loss of proximal nail fold limits, onychoatrophy, and distal splitting greater than 50%. CONCLUSION: We provide descriptions of the most severe signs in order to facilitate the clinical diagnosis when a biopsy is not feasible and suggest an update of current NLP classifications.

Treatment of Nail Fold Hypertrophy by Combining Conservative Techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertrophy of the nail folds is a common condition. It occurs by alteration of shape, partial loss, or absence of the nail, resulting in loss of the nail fold physiological limit. This can also occur by the friction of the nail with the nail fold. Consequently, there is an increase in the volume of the lateral or distal nail fold and a decrease in the space of the nail bed and the nail plate. Management of this onychodystrophy may be conservative or surgical. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of distal nail embedding after trauma, submitted to conservative treatment. Combined techniques were required as trichloroacetic acid application, rolled cotton padding maneuver, artificial resin nail technique, and orthesis. After 14 months, good functional and aesthetic results were obtained, with correction of the anatomical shape of the nail unit. CONCLUSION: The conservative techniques for hypertrophy of the nail folds are a useful option with good functional and aesthetic results. The indication must be precise, considering the history of the patient and after discarding bone alterations by image exams. The disadvantage of the method is the long treatment time and constant visits to the doctor's office.

Onychomatricoma with Onychomycosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Onychomatricoma is a primary benign neoplasm of the nail matrix. Currently, a limited number of cases have been reported, so it is still considered a rare neoplasia. However, it is debatable if this condition is underdiagnosed and underreported. Onychomycosis is an important differential diagnosis of onychomatricoma, and sometimes, both these conditions may even coexist in the same nail. As the tumor grows, tissue microenvironment is more vulnerable to dermatophytes. Probably, the altered keratin appears to be susceptible to fungal invasion. Careful clinical assessment and dermoscopic evaluation help nailing the diagnosis. Usually, total nail avulsion is the preferred therapeutic approach when they coexist. Herein, we present a case of a middle-aged woman with onychomycosis and onychomatricoma affecting a single fingernail. The proposed therapy was oral terbinafine for 6 months followed by a conservative surgery. There were dramatic changes in dermoscopic features after fungal treatment, which, to our knowledge, have not been previously reported.

Onychocytic matricoma.

Onychocytic matricoma is a newly described tumor of the nail matrix. Clinically, it presents with localized thickening of the nail plate and melanonychia. Histologically, it represents a benign acanthoma of onychocytes. There are 8 cases reported in the literature. A 12-year-old girl presented with localized melanonychia and concurrent thickening of the nail plate restricted to the area of pigmentation affecting the right thumb, with no history of trauma or pain. We report a case of this rare tumor occurring in late childhood and provide a comprehensive review of its clinical presentation and differential diagnosis. Both clinicians and dermatopathologists should be aware of the presentation of onychocytic matricoma and include it in their scope of diagnosis of longitudinal nail bands.

Onychocytic matricoma

Abstract Onychocytic matricoma is a newly described tumor of the nail matrix. Clinically, it presents with localized thickening of the nail plate and melanonychia. Histologically, it represents a benign acanthoma of onychocytes. There are 8 cases reported in the literature. A 12-year-old girl presented with localized melanonychia and concurrent thickening of the nail plate restricted to the area of pigmentation affecting the right thumb, with no history of trauma or pain. We report a case of this rare tumor occurring in late childhood and provide a comprehensive review of its clinical presentation and differential diagnosis. Both clinicians and dermatopathologists should be aware of the presentation of onychocytic matricoma and include it in their scope of diagnosis of longitudinal nail bands.

Chronic paronychia treatment: Square flap technique.

BACKGROUND: Chronic paronychia is an inflammatory process of the periungual folds that lasts longer than 6 weeks. It manifests as hypertrophy of the proximal and lateral nailfolds, absence of cuticle, progressive retraction of the proximal nailfold, and onychodystrophy. Surgical treatment is recommended if there has been insufficient response to 6 months of appropriate medical therapies. OBJECTIVE: We describe a new surgical technique that removes the fibrotic tissue without complete excision of the proximal and lateral nailfold, minimizing nailfold retraction and recovery time. METHODS: We present a case series of 34 fingers (9 patients) treated with this new technique. RESULTS: All nailfolds healed well without complications. At the end of the follow-up, all fingers, apart from 2, were relieved of the preoperative symptoms. The length of the ungual plate was maintained in all patients, with no retraction of the nailfolds. LIMITATIONS: Follow-up period of 6 months and small sample size are limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: This surgical technique can provide an alternative treatment for chronic paronychia, with good prognosis during follow up-period and optimal cosmetic results.

Dermatoscopy of nail lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Nail lichen planus affects 10% of all patients with lichen planus. It is a severe disease that may lead to destruction of the nail plate. It affects fingernails more than toenails. Early diagnosis is important due to its aggressive behavior. Histopathology should be carried out, but in many occasions it is not enough to come to a conclusive diagnosis. Dermatoscopy, a complementary tool, has proven to be useful in its diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Currently, there is very little data regarding dermatoscopy of nail lichen planus. METHODS: Dermatoscopic photographic data of 11 patients having 79 nails affected with nail lichen planus, seen in a specialized nail disease facility, were selected and analyzed. The data was confirmed with histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Dermatoscopy showed abnormalities of the nail matrix, with trachyonychia in 40.51% and pitting in 34.18%. As to nail bed anomalies, there was chromonychia in 55.70%, fragmentation of body of nail in 50.63%, splinter hemorrhage in 35.44%, onycholysis in 27.85%, and subungual keratosis in 7.59%. Concerning anomalies that involved nail matrix, bed, and perionychial region altogether, there were longitudinal streaks in 82.28% and anonychia in 1.27%. Paronychia was present in 31.65% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Considering that nail lichen planus is an underdiagnosed disease with severe consequences, early diagnosis is essential. This descriptive study of dermatoscopic characteristics of nail lichen planus would highlight some key changes in the course of the disease that will contribute to early diagnostic suspicion, early treatment, and could improve prognosis.