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Dermatology · Nail disorders: Beau lines
Sample itemTwo months after a severe febrile illness, a patient has transverse grooves across all fingernails at the same level. What are these called?
Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.
The answer and the reasoning
A. Beau lines
Beau lines are transverse depressions from temporary arrest of nail matrix activity after severe illness, chemotherapy or trauma. Their distance from the cuticle indicates the time since the insult.
Option by option
A. Beau lines (correct)
Correct. Transverse grooves are Beau lines.
B. Muehrcke lines
Muehrcke lines are paired white bands in hypoalbuminaemia.
C. Mees lines
Mees lines are transverse white bands of arsenic poisoning.
D. Splinter haemorrhages
Splinter haemorrhages are linear subungual bleeds.
Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.
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