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Clinical guidelines for the recognition of melanoma of the foot and nail unit

Ivan R Bristow1*, David AR de Berker2, Katharine M Acland3, Richard J Turner4 and Jonathan Bowling4

Author Affiliations

1 School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

2 Bristol Dermatology Centre, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK

3 St Johns Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK

4 Department of Dermatology, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK

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Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2010, 3:25 doi:10.1186/1757-1146-3-25

Published: 1 November 2010

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is a life threatening skin tumour which may arise on the foot. The prognosis for the condition is good when lesions are diagnosed and treated early. However, lesions arising on the soles and within the nail unit can be difficult to recognise leading to delays in diagnosis. These guidelines have been drafted to alert health care practitioners to the early signs of the disease so an early diagnosis can be sought.