Onychoscopy as a diagnostic tool in dermatology – Observational study

 

G Sumalatha^1*, V Haritha², Madhavilatha Midde³

 

¹Post Graduate, ²Assistant Professor, ³Professor, Department Of DVL, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, NH-40, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

 

Abstract              Background: Nail abnormalities comprise about 10% of dermatological disorders. A pink and lustrous nail is an indication of good health. The nail unit shows only limited changes to a large number of diseases affecting it.  Objective: To diagnose various onychoscopic features of nail unit disorders and nail fold capillary patterns. Methods: an observational study was done for all patients attending DVL OPD, santhiram medical college and general hospital from June 2019-November2019. All patients underwent thorough clinical examination, and affected nails were examined with dermatoscope and photographed. Results: Total 206 patients were included with following diseases: onychomycosis 63, psoriasis 42, infections 30, lichen planus 19, alopecia areata and onychophagia 12, periungual warts 9, systemic sclerosis and pregnancy 7, systemic lupus erythematosus 3, dariers 2. The most common onychoscopic pattern noted were spiked pattern in onychomycosis, onycholysis in psoriasis, greenish discolouration in infections, longitudinal melanonychia in lichen planus, trachynochyia in alopecia areata, crusting in onychophagia, haemorrhages in periungual warts, giant capillaries in systemic sclerosis, longitudinal melanonychia in pregnancy, tortuous capillaries in systemic lupus erythematosus, v-shaped nick in dariers.  Conclusion: onychoscope is most important in evaluating nail disorders and reduces invasive procedures. It avoids unnecessary time-consuming investigations such as culture and biopsy.

Key Word: Onychoscopy.