SUBCUTANEOUS FAT NECROSIS OF THE NEW-BORN

Abstract

The various types of subcutaneous induration occurring in new-born or young infants have been the source of a good deal of confusion. During the past decade, however, knowledge of the subject has been considerably increased by histologic and chemical examinations. The type of induration that is the subject of this paper should. I think, be termed subcutaneous fat necrosis of the new-born, though it is still spoken of as sclerema neonatorum by some British and American writers. In many of these cases at the present time the confusion is merely one of nomenclature. Much confusion has also resulted from the reports of cases of scleroderma neonatorum which were manifestly not scleroderma but in all probability cases of subcutaneous fat necrosis. I shall discuss this subject later. The four principal types of subcutaneous induration to be considered are the following: adiponecrosis subcutanea neonatorum, sclerema adiposum (sclerema neonatorum),