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Front Pediatr 2022 28;10:845424. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a panniculitis that develops in fatty areas after fetal or perinatal distress. Prognosis is generally good with complete regression, but it can be complicated by metabolic abnormalities like hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, thrombocytopenia, and also potentially life-threatening hypercalcemia. Treatments have included hydration, furosemide and corticosteroids. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2022 May 4. Epub 2022 May 4.

Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2022 Mar;47(5):1307-1315

Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine Kunming 650500, China Yunnan Key Laboratory of Applied Drug Delivery System and Preparation Technology Kunming 650500, China.

This paper aims to study the effect of Xiangqin Jiere Granules(XQ) on lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation in different obesity model mice. The monosodium glutamate(MSG) obese mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of MSG in newborn mice, and the high fat diet(HFD) obese mouse model was established by feeding adult mice with HFD. The normal mice were assigned into the control group; the MSG obese mice were assigned into MSG model group, XQ4. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2022 Jun 2;44(6):e64-e66. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Department of Pathology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.

Abstract: A 15-month-old full-term boy of African descent with an asymptomatic sickle cell trait presented with episodes of transient erythematous subcutaneous nodules involving the entire body except the face, since 2 weeks of age. The skin lesions evolved to areas of lipoatrophy and hyperpigmentation. An initial skin biopsy, studied at a different department at 2 months, was initially misinterpreted as subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn, despite the lack of the typical radiated crystals and needle-shaped clefts characterizing that entity. Read More

Skinmed 2021 1;19(5):392-394. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.

A boy weighing 4500 g was born at 41 weeks' gestation by Cesarean section due to fetal distress. The pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes. He had an Apgar score of 5 and 6 after 5 and 10 minutes, respectively. Read More

Dermatopathology (Basel) 2021 Aug 17;8(3):390-417. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Department of Dermatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, 75015 Paris, France.

Multiple papulonodular skin lesions at birth can indicate the presence of various benign and malignant disorders. Although the lesions' clinical aspect (color and consistency, in particular) may steer the clinician towards one disorder or another (infantile myofibromatosis, xanthogranuloma, or metastatic neuroblastoma), the diagnosis can only be confirmed by the histopathologic assessment of a biopsy. In neonates, a rapid but accurate diagnosis is critical because skin lesions may be the first manifestation of a malignant disorder like leukemia cutis or metastatic neuroblastoma. Read More

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 08 14;26(4):101269. Epub 2021 Jul 14.

Department of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 37, 8075, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 37, 8075, Zurich, Switzerland; University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SFNN) is a rare, self-resolving panniculitis. The onset of skins lesions occurs within the first week of life, with a median age of onset around day 6 of life (range 1-70). About 50% of neonates with SFNN will develop hypercalcemia in the first month though some present later. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Jul 28;14(7). Epub 2021 Jul 28.

Skin and Venereal Diseases, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Delhi, India.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is inflammation and necrosis of adipose tissue associated with hypoxia and hypothermia. It leads to various metabolic abnormalities, of which the most dreaded is hypercalcaemia. We report a case of a 7-week-old boy with history of birth asphyxia (hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy stage 3) who presented to us with features suggestive of hypercalcaemia with bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2022 Jan 26;61(1):e29-e31. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Dermatology, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines.

Hippokratia 2020 Jul-Sep;24(3):144

First Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University, Hippokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2021 Jul;103(7):e234-e237

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is a rare self-limiting panniculitis. It is thought to be associated with perinatal hypoxia and therapeutic hypothermia. It is characterised by firm subcutaneous nodules on the back, shoulder and arms. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2021 Jul 18;38(4):982-983. Epub 2021 Jun 18.

Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) is an inflammatory disorder of the adipose tissue that commonly presents in neonates as tender subcutaneous nodules on the trunk and extremities with hypercalcemia as a potential complication. We report the case of a 3-month-old female who presented with circular alopecia of the scalp and was found to have histopathologically confirmed SCFN. Recognition of SCFN as a cause for alopecia in young infants may allow prompt screening for hypercalcemia and reduce the risk for associated morbidity and mortality. Read More

Children (Basel) 2021 May 9;8(5). Epub 2021 May 9.

1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis is an uncommon benign panniculitis affecting more commonly full-term newborns. It has been associated with birth asphyxia and meconium aspiration, as well as therapeutic hypothermia. Although the prognosis is generally favorable, complications such as hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia may complicate its course. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2021 Apr 18;9(4):2069-2073. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Department of Pediatrics Hospital Garcia de Orta, EPE Lisbon Portugal.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn should be considered in newborns with suggestive skin lesions, even in the absence of perinatal distress. SCFN may cause long-standing complications, like hypertriglyceridemia or hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia can be refractory to therapy and lead to poor weight gain and nephrocalcinosis, which should be closely monitored. Read More

Endokrynol Pol 2021 22;72(3):278-279. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Department of Neonatology, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal.

Not required for Clinical Vignette. Read More

Paediatr Int Child Health 2021 Aug 14;41(3):221-225. Epub 2021 Mar 14.

Divisions of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) in the newborn is a form of panniculitis which presents with erythematous nodules and indurated plaques. Severe life-threatening hypercalcaemia can occur as a late complication. A 2-month-old girl presented with severe hypercalcaemia and acute renal injury as a complication of SFN. Read More

A A Pract 2021 Mar 8;15(3):e01422. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

From the Department of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology, University of Southern California.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) is an uncommon, self-limiting panniculitis generally diagnosed in the first few weeks of extrauterine life in term or postterm infants subjected to perinatal physiologic stress. Hallmarks of the process include dramatic hypercalcemia without identifiable cause that may be associated with renal disease, seizures, and death. Herein, we describe the anesthetic approach in an 11-week-old infant, including perioperative laboratory testing, management of hypercalcemia, and intraoperative considerations. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2020 Nov 15;26(11). Epub 2020 Nov 15.

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia.

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is a rare lobular panniculitis. It is characteristic of term or post-term neonates with a history of perinatal compromise or maternal gestational pathology. The cutaneous manifestations consist of erythematous and indurated subcutaneous plaques and nodules located over the dorsal region and the shoulders. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2020 Oct;42(10):717-730

Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist, Kempf und Pfaltz Histologische Diagnostic, Zürich, Switzerland.

Neutrophilic infiltrates in panniculitis can be seen in different clinical-pathological entities. There are a "mostly neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate" in some entities classically defined as neutrophilic panniculitis and already included in algorithms, such as enzymatic panniculitis, infective and factitial ones, erythema induratum, or subcutaneous Sweet syndrome, but there are also other panniculitis where neutrophils are frequently observed such as panniculitis associated with inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis, or drug-induced panniculitis associated with BRAF inhibitors, and finally, some panniculitis are better classified in other panniculitides groups but may present with neutrophil-rich variants, such as the neutrophil-rich subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn. We review the main clinical and histopathological features of most of these panniculitides and construct a diagnostic algorithm including these diseases. Read More

Cutis 2020 07;106(1):E5-E6

MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

J Paediatr Child Health 2021 06 11;57(6):947-949. Epub 2020 Aug 11.

Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Rev Chil Pediatr 2020 Feb 3;91(1):94-98. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Talca, Chile.

Introduction: Panniculitis is a group of diseases that affect subcutaneous fat tissue and clinically manifest as nodules. Its pathogenesis is not entirely clear, and it is usually asymptomatic. The confirma tory diagnosis is histological. Read More

Indian Dermatol Online J 2020 May-Jun;11(3):471-472. Epub 2020 May 10.

Department of Pathology, Lal Pathology Laboratory, New Delhi, India.

Dermatol Ther 2020 11 19;33(6):e13952. Epub 2020 Jul 19.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jun 11;13(6). Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Pediatrics-Neonatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

A term, large for gestational age male newborn, was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with meconium aspiration syndrome and severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. The baby was treated with therapeutic hypothermia using a total body cooling blanket. After 48 hours, the baby developed tender, indurated subcutaneous nodules consistent with subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN). Read More

Pediatr Rev 2020 06;41(6):293-296

University of Pittsburgh Physicians, Pittsburgh, PA.

Case Rep Hematol 2020 21;2020:5742394. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

Background: Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) is a form of transient panniculitis that presents commonly in infants with a history of perinatal insult, particularly hypothermia. It is characterized by subcutaneous nodules and plaques that appear over bony prominences on cheeks, shoulders, buttock, and thighs. SFN is usually associated with various complications including hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2020 Jan;37(1):e12-e14

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Dec 15;12(12). Epub 2019 Dec 15.

Neonatology, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

A term infant developed subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SFNN) 17 days following completion of therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. Initial calcium was normal, however hypercalcaemia requiring hyperhydration and furosemide developed at 4 weeks. Parathyroid hormone and vitamin D were suppressed. Read More