A Case of Subungual Exostosis Mimicking Verruca Vulgaris

Subungual exostosis is a benign bone tumor causing nail deformities and possibly pain for the patient. Etiology includes trauma, infection, and activation of a cartilaginous cyst, more commonly seen in adult patients. Here, we present a case of subungual exostosis in a pediatric patient that initially mimicked subungual verruca vulgaris. After failed cryotherapy, surgical management allowed for symptom resolution without recurrence. This case highlights the need to consider subungual exostosis in the differential when managing suspected verruca vulgaris associated with the nail unit, a common finding in pediatric patients, particularly if the lesions are refractory to traditional verruca treatments.