FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY OF SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS OF THE NEWBORN

This report provides the first description of the fine-needle aspirati on biopsy findings in a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newbo rn. While initial interpretation of the aspirate smears was suspicious for a neoplastic process, subsequent incisional biopsy confirmed the benign nature of the lesion. Review of the cytologic material revealed rare, negatively stained, needle-shaped crystals within histiocytes a nd multinucleate giant cells. In the appropriate clinical setting, and given a mixture of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and multinucleate giant cells in the aspirate smears, we believe the finding of negatively sta ined needle-shaped crystals can strongly suggest the diagnosis of subc utaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.