Melanonychia
Melanonychia
Melanonychia (pronounced: mel·a·no·nych·ia) is a medical condition characterized by brown to black discoloration of the nails. This condition can affect both the fingernails and toenails and is typically harmless. However, in rare cases, it can be a sign of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer.
Etymology
The term "Melanonychia" is derived from the Greek words "melas" meaning black, and "onyx" meaning nail.
Causes
Melanonychia is often caused by an increase in the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color. This can occur due to a variety of reasons including trauma to the nail, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions such as Addison's disease or HIV.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of melanonychia typically involves a physical examination of the affected nail(s) by a healthcare professional. In some cases, a biopsy may be performed to rule out melanoma.
Treatment
Treatment for melanonychia is usually not necessary unless the condition is caused by an underlying medical condition or is a sign of melanoma. In such cases, treatment of the underlying condition or cancer is required.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Melanonychia
- Wikipedia's article - Melanonychia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski