Onychomatricoma

Abstract

Onychomatricoma is a benign neoplasia that occurs specifically in the nail apparatus. It was described in 1992, and is the only tumor in which the change of the nail plate is actively caused by the lesion. It lies in the nail matrix,and has fingerlike projections that are embedded in the nail plate, resulting in thickening, longitudinal grooves, yellow discoloration and splinter hemorrhages. Although described as a rare tumor, it is believed to be underdiagnosed. The present study is aimed at reviewing onychomatricoma's clinical features as well as the complementary examinations that are used to recognize and diagnose this tumor.