SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS OF THE NEWBORN

The patient in this study was an 18-day-old healthy boy, delivered by caesarean section at 33 weeks gestation, and the product of a pregnanc y complicated by gestational diabetes and preterm labor. At 10 days ol d, three dermal and subcutaneous nodules were noted on the midline of the back (Fig. 1). The nodules measured 1-3 cm in size; they were firm , mobile, and multilobulated in quality. The overlying epidermis was s lightly erythematous, but otherwise appeared normal. A skin biopsy obt ained 8 days after the lesions were first noted is shown in Fig. 2(a); necrosis of the fat with giant cell formation and characteristic need le-shaped clefts within residual fat cells can be seen (Fig. 2b).