Subungual exostosis of the finger in an 8-year-old girl

Introduction: Subungual exostosis (SE) is a relatively uncommon benign bone tumor that occurs in the distal phalanges of the toes or fingers.Case presentation: An 8-year-old girl presented for treatment of an acquired mass on the distal right index finger. The patient was preoperatively diagnosed with a benign bone tumor. Surgical resection of the distal right index finger mass was performed under general anesthesia, and histological examination of the resected tissue supported a diagnosis of SE of the right index finger. The surgical outcome was good, with no surgical site infection. Throughout 15 months of follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with no recurrence.Conclusion: Surgical resection of a mass on the distal right index finger resulted in absence of recurrence during 15 months of follow-up. SE is a benign and uncommon lesion that is infrequently encountered by physicians. This infrequent occurrence may result in delays in diagnosis and treatment. Complete excision of the lesion and careful separation from underlying nail bed structures results in total resolution of the lesion, while providing the lowest risk of recurrence.