ABSTRACT
The nail apparatus is affected by various systemic diseases and tumors. History and clinical examination are helpful. Biopsy is the golden standard. The nail apparatus is an aesthetic part of our body, so there is a need for non-invasive modalities in the diagnosis and prognosis of nail unit pathologies.
With recent advances in radiological imaging techniques and the advent of high-resolution ultrasound probes like ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and micro coils in MR imaging, diagnosis in nail unit pathologies looks very promising. Localization of a disease process or tumor in the nail unit is possible in situ with ultrasonography, MRI, and digital X-rays. Characteristic features of tumors, their vascularity and depth can be visualized non-invasively. The effect and efficacy of various therapies on a lesion can be assessed in situ. The nail imaging chapter describes in detail the imaging features of various nail pathologies on ultrasound biomicroscopy, MR imaging, and distal X-rays.
