Elements of morphology: standard terminology for the hands and feet

An international group of clinicians working in the field of dysmorphology has initiated the standardization of terms used to describe human morphology. The goals are to standardize these terms and reach consensus regarding their definitions. In this way, we will increase the utility of descriptions of the human phenotype and facilitate reliable comparisons of findings among patients. Discussions with other workers in dysmorphology and related fields, such as developmental biology and molecular genetics, will become more precise. Here we introduce the anatomy of the hands and feet and define and illustrate the terms that describe the major characteristics of the hands and feet.

Nail dystrophies

Various individual nail dystrophies that are not easily categorized within other articles are reviewed. Onychoatrophia, anonychia, onychorrhexsis, leukonychia, Beau's lines, onycholysis, onychomadesis, onychoschizia, haplonychia, longitudinal melanonychia, and ventral pterygium are included and clinically pictured. Their clinical description, etiology, associated conditions, differential diagnoses, and treatment are discussed and tabulated. In addition, several clinical severity-scoring methods are presented.

Statistical reappraisal of the clinical significance of nail beading in rheumatoid arthritis

Nail beading has previously been reported as an accompaniment of rheumatoid arthritis. In order to assess the clinical significance of this form of nychodystrophy the fingernails and toenails of 119 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an equal number of control subjects were studied. Analysis of data based on 4642 nails indicates that the presence of a global pattern of beading (i.e. greater than or equal to 50% involvement of the nail area) on the surface of at least six fingernails or four toenails is highly suggestive of underlying rheumatoid disease. The positive predictive value of these configurations is in the order of 95%. Nail beading, however, is infrequent in early disease and therefore its diagnostic value is limited. Although there is a strong association between nail beading and rheumatoid arthritis, the aetiology and prognostic implications of this clinical sign remain obscure.

Dystrophia unguium mediana canaliformis

An attempt is made to give a sort of classification of the median nail dystrophies. 6 own cases are reported. As there are many morphological transitional forms, it is for the present recommended to call all those forms dystrophia unguium mediana canaliformis.