skip to main content

Yellow Nail Syndrome — SCE Dermatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardNail DisordersYellow Nail SyndromeSCE Dermatology

A 50-year-old woman presents with a yellow nail syndrome triad. Which three clinical features constitute this syndrome?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: EYellow nails, bronchiectasis, lymphoedema

The best answer is “Yellow nails, bronchiectasis, lymphoedema”. Nail findings localise disease to matrix, bed or periungual tissue; a new changing longitudinal pigmented or erythronychic band requires specialist assessment because benign and malignant causes overlap. The alternatives “Yellow nails, hepatitis, pruritus”, “Yellow nails, psoriasis, arthritis”, “Yellow nails, diabetes, neuropathy”, “Yellow nails, renal failure, anaemia” are clinically adjacent possibilities, but they do not fit the defining morphology, distribution, histopathology, risk signal or management sequence in this stem.

Reference: DermNet specialist nail terminology reference: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/nail-terminology