[Single digit nail clubbing]

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Nail disorders can present with varied etiologies.
• Subungual tumors are uncommon causes of digital abnormalities.
• Neurofibromas typically affect nerve tissue but can occur in various locations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of subungual neurofibroma causing isolated digital clubbing.
• To highlight the diagnostic approach and successful management of this rare condition.
• To emphasize the importance of considering neoplastic causes for digital deformities.

Main Methods:

• Clinical presentation of a 33-year-old female with a progressive nail disorder.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for subungual lesion characterization.
• Histopathological examination of the excised tumor for definitive diagnosis.

Main Results:

• A solitary, asymptomatic subungual neurofibroma was identified as the cause of left index finger clubbing.
• Surgical excision of the neurofibroma was performed.
• Complete recovery with preservation of nail and finger structure was achieved post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Subungual neurofibroma is a rare but treatable cause of acquired digital clubbing.
• Multimodality diagnostic imaging and histopathology are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• Conservative surgical management can yield excellent functional and aesthetic outcomes.