Subungual malignant melanoma of the hand: unusual clinical presentation. Case report

A 75-year-old woman presented with a four month history of a slowly growing tumour on the distal portion of the third finger of her left hand. The lesion suggested clinically an inflammatory process or an epidermoid carcinoma. The finger was amputated through the proximal interphalangeal joint. Microscopic examination showed an acral-lentiginous melanoma, subungual type (Clark level V). No elective lymph node dissection was done, and no prophylactic chemotherapy was given. The patient remains free of disease eight months after operation. Clinicians should be aware of this rare lesion, which may mimic other benign or malignant conditions.