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Differential Diagnosis for Swelling, Redness, and Extra Growth at Cuticle Line

  • Single Most Likely Diagnosis
    • Paronychia: This is an infection of the skin around the nail, which can cause swelling, redness, and sometimes an extra growth or pus-filled abscess at the cuticle line. It's a common condition that can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections.
  • Other Likely Diagnoses
    • Ingrown Nail: This condition occurs when the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, and redness. It can also lead to extra growth or the formation of granulation tissue at the cuticle line.
    • Eczema/Dermatitis: Certain types of eczema or dermatitis, especially those related to irritants or allergens, can cause swelling, redness, and thickening of the skin around the nail, including the cuticle area.
    • Wart: A wart caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) can appear as an extra growth around the nail, including at the cuticle line, and may cause surrounding redness and swelling.
  • Do Not Miss Diagnoses
    • Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Although rare, this type of skin cancer can present as a growth or lesion around the nail, including the cuticle area. It's crucial to consider this diagnosis to ensure early detection and treatment.
    • Melanoma: A melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can very rarely appear in the nail area, including the cuticle. Given its potential severity, it's essential to rule out melanoma, especially if there's a new or changing pigmented lesion.
  • Rare Diagnoses
    • Myxoid Cyst: A benign growth that can occur on the fingers or toes, near the nail, and may cause swelling or redness if it becomes inflamed or infected.
    • Glomus Tumor: A rare, benign tumor that arises from the glomus body, a specialized form of blood vessel. It can occur under the nail or near the cuticle line and may cause pain, swelling, and discoloration.
    • Nail Apparatus Tumors (e.g., onychomatricoma, onychocytic adenoma): These are rare, benign tumors that originate from the nail matrix or nail bed and can cause abnormalities in nail growth and appearance, including swelling and redness around the nail.

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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