Description
The specimen consists of the distal portion of an amputated finger; the nail has been removed; it
had obviously been elevated by a dark-coloured tumour; the cut surface of the tumour shows
melanin pigment with a central paler area. The original tumour measuring 2.1 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm; the
histological picture was that of a nodular malignant melanoma.
History
This woman presented at the age of 76 with a long history of a split fingernail; 6 months
before it had been injured and had become infected; since that time the nail had been lost and the
lesion more obvious.