Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.
This report provides the first description of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings in a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn. While initial interpretation of the aspirate smears was suspicious for a neoplastic process, subsequent incisional biopsy confirmed the benign nature of the lesion. Review of the cytologic material revealed rare, negatively stained, needle-shaped crystals within histiocytes and multinucleate giant cells. In the appropriate clinical setting, and given a mixture of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and multinucleate giant cells in the aspirate smears, we believe the finding of negatively stained needle-shaped crystals can strongly suggest the diagnosis of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.
Walker
W P
WP
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242-1009.
Smith
R J
RJ
Cohen
M B
MB
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002610:Cheek; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005218:Fat Necrosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male