I noticed a single vertical streak on my right big toe on November 6.
It was very noticeable and unusual so I googled “vertical line on big toe” and got hits for splinter hemorrhagen, melanonychia, and subungual melanoma.
I checked on splinter hemorrhages and it did not fit. No known trauma to my right foot or toe nail that I recall. No change in usual habits in activity to indicate trauma and the light black thin line has not grown out at all in the past 3 months and 10 days.
Looked at melanonychia and subungual melanoma. The line seems to be darkening and getting a bit wider but not by much.
I have a referral to a specialist but my worry is being misdiagnosed because all the research literature I’ve accessed is based on advanced cases and the presentation of the melanonychia is significantly different in size and darkness.
In any case, has anyone been diagnosed with subungual melanoma at its very earliest stages?
The line on my nail is light black and vertical right in the middle of my big toenail. It is about 1/4 of a mm in width and runs the full length of my toenail from the back of the nail plate closest to the front edge of toe.
So far two GPs have seen it: one has not seen anything like it before and the other is of the mind that it is nothing to worry about.
Maybe she is right and I am spending too much time on something that is harmless?
It would be nice if this forum had the capacity to upload pics so we could have a visual reference for comparison.
