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 pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes and preterm labor. At 10 days old, 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 slightly erythematous, but otherwise appeared normal. A skin biopsy obtained 8 days after the lesions were first noted is shown in Fig. 2(a); necrosis of the fat with giant cell formation and characteristic needle-shaped clefts within residual fat cells can be seen (Fig. 2b).