Pterygium inversum unguis or ventral pterygium is characterized by the adherence of the distal portion of the nailbed to the ventral surface of the nail plate.
[James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). ''Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology''. (10th ed.). Saunders. .] The condition may be present at birth or acquired, and may cause pain with manipulation of small objects, typing, and close manicuring of the nail.
secondary due to
connective tissue disorders. Pterygium inversum unguis is often asymptomatic.
Signs and symptoms
Pterygium inversum unguis is often asymptomatic. The most commonly reported symptom amongst those who do experience symptoms is bleeding or pain after clipping the affected nails.
Causes
The cause of pterygium inversum unguis is unknown. Congenital pterygium inversum unguis is assumed to be brought on by an early abnormality in the fetal ridge and groove formation.
Idiopathic forms of pterygium inversum unguis may result from the nail bed's distal expansion, which often aids in the creation of the nail plate.
Secondary pterygium inversum unguis is thought to be caused by abnormal distal circulation.
Diagnosis
A prominent hyperkeratotic
stratum corneum
The stratum corneum (Latin language, Latin for 'horny layer') is the outermost layer of the epidermis (skin), epidermis. Consisting of dead tissue, it protects underlying tissue from infection, dehydration, chemicals and mechanical stress. It is ...
with normal nail bed vasculature is seen upon histological analysis. It extends and is firmly linked to the underside of the nail plate.
Treatment
The best way to address pterygium inversum unguis is unclear; many approaches, such as
topical steroids,
keratolytics, and electrocautery-assisted surgical excision, have been shown to be ineffective.
Treating the underlying cause of pterygium inversum unguis is the best course of action.
Epidemiology
As of 2014, only 37 cases have been reported in literature.
Pterygium inversum unguis most commonly affects women ages 20-70.
See also
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Pterygium unguis
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Nail
Nail or Nails may refer to:
In biology
* Nail (anatomy), toughened protective protein-keratin (known as alpha-keratin, also found in hair) at the end of an animal or human digit, such as fingernail
* Nail (beak), a plate of hard horny tissue a ...
*
List of cutaneous conditions
Many skin conditions affect the human integumentary system—the organ system covering the entire surface of the Human body, body and composed of Human skin, skin, hair, Nail (anatomy), nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function o ...
References
Further reading
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External links
{{Disorders of skin appendages
Conditions of the skin appendages