Figure 1 - uploaded by Karthik Nagesh
Content may be subject to copyright.
Subcutaneous fat showing giant cells and needle shaped crystals (H and E, X20)
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... in a radial arrangement were seen in the cytoplasm of the macrophages [ Figure 1]. The histologic features were those of subcutaneous fat necrosis. ...
Citations
... Case Report 2 1 6 In tro duc ti on Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (ScFN) is a rare condition and its pathophysiology is unknown. It is usually reported in term newborns, but may occur in preterms as well (1,2,3,4). The skin lesions of ScFN can be described as firm and painful subcutaneous nodules, the appearance of which may vary from an erythematous to a violaceous lesion. ...
Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (ScFN) is an uncommon condition caused by generalized and/or local tissue hypoperfusion. The skin lesions of ScFN tend to improve spontaneously. However, ScFN may also lead to complications which cause serious problems. The severity of the etiologic factors contributing to the development of the disease determines the severity of complications. Therefore, these patients should be closely monitored for complications, especially for hypercalcemia which may be life-threatening. The severity and duration of hypercalcemia are associated with the extensity of skin lesions.
We present a newborn who developed ScFN as a result of systemic hypotension. The ScFN resolved after the first few weeks of life, but the patient developed mild hypercalcemia during the 4-month follow-up period. The infant was breast-fed during follow-up, and vitamin D prophylaxis was not initiated. The hypercalcemia resolved within four months without any complications. We would like to draw attention to the need to monitor serum calcium levels in these infants and to refrain from initiating vitamin D prophylaxis in the first months of life.
Conflict of interest:None declared.
... The disease is characterized by painful, red-purple subcutaneous nodules in the skin involving covering areas of the bulge of the bone such as the back, hip, shoulder, and cheek [1][2][3]. The lesions are usually seen in term babies, although it has been reported in a 34-week preterm baby [4]. Imaging studies with MR showed that lesions were not limited to skin [5]. ...
... The skin lesions start to appear several weeks after the responsible event and often spontaneously improve within a few weeks or months. Emerging metabolic complications, however, can be life-threatening [1][2][3][4][5][6]. ...
... The serum calcium level was 11.33 mg/dl (7.6-10.8); phosphorus, 5.57 mg/dl (4)(5)(6)(7); alkaline phosphatase, 293 IU/l (75-315); and urine Ca/Cr ratio 0.19 mg/mg. The baby was breastfed at that time. ...
Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (ScFN) is an uncommon condition of neonates and infants. The disorder is caused by generalized and local tissue hypoperfusion. The ScFN tends to improve spontaneously with or without some severe complications such as hypercalcemia. The ScFN may occur as iatrogenic after hypothermic surgical interventions. We present iatrogenic ScFN in a newborn with uncomplicated hypercalcemia due to cold exposure on operating table during at an umbilical cord hernia operation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient in whom ScFN occurred during a commonly performed and relatively short-term "nonhypothermic" operation.
