A four-year-old Caucasian female was being observed in emergency department for an unrelated complain (dysuria), when her mother reported the presence of a black linear lesion on her right thumb nail. This was present for two years and there was no history of previous trauma or recent medication when it was initially noted. It kept the same characteristics throughout time despite the nail's growth. Her father displayed a similar lesion.
On physical exam she presented a narrow black linear pigmentation along the entire length of the nail of the first finger of the right hand (Figure 1A). There were no other lesions on the remaining hand and feet nails or in the skin.
The child was referred to Dermatology where longitudinal melanonychia (LM) was diagnosed. Since the lesion was stable, conservative approach was adopted. Following two years of dermoscopic surveillance, spontaneously partial regression of the lesion was confirmed with lightening of the proximal half. (Figure 1B).
Figure 1. Dermatoscopic images: A - Pigmented band along the entire length of the nail of the right thumb without nail dystrophy at diagnosis; B - the same lesion two years later, narrower and lighter proximally.
What is the diagnosis?