Sunday, November 16, 2014

Image of the Week 11/18/2014


What physical examination finding is displayed on this nail? Why does this condition develop?

1 comment:

  1. This is koilonychia in severe iron deficiency. Nails become brittle and fragile and develop vertical stripes. Nail plate changes result in koilonychia (spoon shaped nails). Koilonychia is one of the rare physical findings in iron-deficiency anemia. It is primarily recognized as a manifestation of chronic iron deficiency, which may result from a variety of causes, such as malnutrition and gastrointestinal blood loss.

    Source: Lichtman's Atlas of Hematology > A. External Manifestations

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