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MRI of squamous cell carcinoma of the nail apparatus: report of 6 cases

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Abstract

Malignant tumors of the nail apparatus are rare and dominated by squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Routinely, their pre-therapy imaging is limited to radiography. Our purpose is to determine the MRI characteristics in the locoregional assessment of SCC of the nail apparatus through a series of 6 consecutive cases explored by MRI and operated, carried out over a period of 12 years. IRB approval was obtained. Two in situ and 4 invasive squamous cell carcinomas were found, sex ratio was 0.5, and the age was 55 ± 10 years (mean ± SD). Most tumors showed specific signal behavior different from that of the epidermis and dermis with high signal on T2wi (5/6) and complete or partial enhancement (6/6). The mean thickness was 3.4 mm. The deep margin of the tumor with the dermis was always well defined for Bowen’s disease (2/2) and blurred for invasive SCC. Localization involved the nail bed epithelium in all cases. Changes of the nail plate were detectable. Extension to lateral and posterior folds, hyponychium, cul-de-sac matrix, deep dermis, and bone was determined. MRI could be proposed as preoperative imaging of squamous cell carcinoma for locoregional assessment and guide biopsy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology B, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP Center - University of Paris, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques 75014, Paris, France

    Amine Ammar & Jean-Luc Drapé

  2. Hand Surgery Department, Clinique de La Main de Paris, 36 Bis Rue Nicolo, 75016, Paris, France

    Arielle Salon

  3. Department of Anatomopathology, Cabinet de Dermatopathologie Mathurin Moreau, 35 Avenue Mathurin Moreau, 75019, Paris, France

    Isabelle Moulonguet

Authors
  1. Amine Ammar
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  2. Arielle Salon
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  3. Isabelle Moulonguet
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  4. Jean-Luc Drapé
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Correspondence to Amine Ammar.

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Ammar, A., Salon, A., Moulonguet, I. et al. MRI of squamous cell carcinoma of the nail apparatus: report of 6 cases. Skeletal Radiol 52, 613–622 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-022-04164-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-022-04164-9

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