• Source: Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is a rare form of lobular panniculitis occurring in newborns that is usually self-remitting and non-recurring. Proposed causes include perinatal stress, local trauma, hypoxia and hypothermia, though the exact cause is unknown. It has been suggested that the brown fat seen in newborns is more sensitive to hypoxic injury than fat seen in adults, and that such hypoxia, usually in the context of a complicated birth, leads to the fat necrosis. Complications can include hypercalcemia, hyperlipidemia, dehydration, hypoglycemia, seizures, vomiting, constipation, and thrombocytopenia, and can present months after the onset of SCFN symptoms.: 490 




Signs and symptoms


Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) occurs in full-term newborns usually in the first six weeks of life as indurated plaques or erythematous to violaceous nodules on the cheeks, back, buttocks, or proximal extremities. Usually, the abdomen and chest are unaffected. There has been a case report of SCFN with localized scalp alopecia covering an erythematous nodule. Tenderness is common in lesions.
About 50% of newborns with subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) experience hypercalcemia, a potentially fatal consequence. Some infants with SCFN experience anemia, hypoglycemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated triglycerides. Rarely, thrombocytosis is seen in infants with SCFN.




Causes


Although the exact cause of the newborn's subcutaneous fat necrosis is unknown, several systemic maternal diseases, including preeclampsia and diabetes, as well as asphyxia, hypothermia, meconium aspiration, and obstetric trauma, may act as precipitating factors in the development of SCFN.




Diagnosis


A skin biopsy and the clinical presentation must both be taken into account for the most accurate diagnosis. But in order to prevent skin biopsy, ultrasonography examination has been shown to be useful in identifying the newborn's subcutaneous fat necrosis when combined with Doppler blood flow analysis; this usually indicates a subcutaneous high echo signal, either with or without calcifications.




See also


Pancreatic panniculitis
Panniculitis




References






Further reading


Lara, Leire González; Villa, Asunción Vicente; Rivas, María Mercedes Otero; Capella, Mariona Sunol; Prada, Fredy; Enseñat, María Antonia González (2017). "Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis of the Newborn: Report of Five Cases". Pediatrics & Neonatology. 58 (1). Elsevier BV: 85–88. doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2014.06.010. ISSN 1875-9572. PMID 28237247.
Mitra, Subhabrata; Dove, Jennifer; Somisetty, Sateesh Kumar (2011-02-12). "Subcutaneous fat necrosis in newborn—an unusual case and review of literature". European Journal of Pediatrics. 170 (9). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 1107–1110. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1405-x. ISSN 0340-6199. PMID 21318229. S2CID 23109123.




External links


DermNet
StatPearls

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn
• Fat necrosis
• Subcutaneous fat necrosis
• Panniculitis
• SFN
• List of skin conditions
• List of histologic stains that aid in diagnosis of cutaneous conditions
• Sclerema neonatorum
• Gynecomastia
• Parry–Romberg syndrome