Abstract

SUMMARY(1) The available literature on subungual melanomas is reviewed.(2) A case of non-melanotic melano-epithelioma of the nail bed is reported. This is apparently the first report of such a type of subungual melanoma.(3) Data from 38 cases of subungual melanoma in the literature, with that of the author's case, are collected and tabulated.(4) A study of the 39 cases forms the basis for this report.(5) Most physicians are not acquainted with the subungual melanoma because of its rarity, and hence do not recognize it when one comes their way. Valuable time is therefore lost before the institution of proper radical treatment. This unfortunate ignorance will have to be eliminated before a better prognosis can be expected.