Subcutaneous fat necrosis with thrombocytopenia in a newborn infant.

A case of subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) in a newborn who had suffered from asphyxia secondary to meconium aspiration is described. During the third week of life, bluish-red subcutaneous nodules were noticed. A biopsy of the lesions showed subcutaneous necrosis with fat cells containing needle-like crystals with reactive inflammatory infiltrates. Peripheral transient thrombocytopenia was observed prior to the appearance of subcutaneous fat necrosis. The good prognosis is stressed.