Dental curettes: useful tools for obtaining nail material for mycologic examination
Stiller, M.J.; Sangueza, O.P.; Slue, W.; Fass, E.
Cutis 52(2): 116
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-4162 PMID: 8404016 Document Number: 406659
Obtaining material, especially subungually, from suspected onychomycotic nails can be difficult and/or traumatic with instrumentation frequently utilized by dermatologists. Use of scalpel blades and standard dermal curettes is often awkward and/or traumatic to the nail bed. Large clippings require micronization with a nail mill or tedious processing with less specialized instruments prior to microscopic examination (potassium hydroxide preparation) and fungal culture. A mycologist at our institution has efficaciously utilized dental curettes to obtain powdery subungual material suitable for immediate mycological assessment. This nontraumatic technique is becoming increasingly popular among clinicians.