Clinical diagnosis of toenail onychomycosis is possible in some patients: cross-sectional diagnostic study and development of a diagnostic rule

Abstract

In 13% of the patients (a large number in absolute terms), when dermatologists consider onychomycosis the most probable diagnosis and plantar desquamation is present, therapy should be started without any further test, as clinical diagnosis is at least as accurate as laboratory tests. In other situations, an optimal management strategy should be defined.