title: Transillumination blisters in a neonate.
abstract: Transillumination with a high-intensity fiberoptic light source is an effective means of diagnosing pneumothoraces and localizing arteries and veins for blood sampling. It has been used for these purposes in neonatal intensive care units since the 1970s. Thermal burns were reported in association with the technique initially, but this complication now occurs infrequently because of numerous safety precautions. We present a case of thermal blisters induced by transillumination in a neonate. This entity is an important addition to the differential diagnosis of vesicobullous eruptions in the neonate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Sajben
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Friedlander
mesh_terms: D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology*; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014172:Transillumination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation