An Unusual Case of Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis in a Newly Born Infant.

Sclerema, scleroderma, and scleroedema are terms used to describe various conditions in the newly born with swelling and induration of areas of skin and the underlying subcutaneous tissues. Confusion, described by Macgregor (1960) as 'chaotic', has arisen from a loose use of the terms. McIntosh, Waugh, and Ross (1938) explain the historical origins of the confusion and mention the tendency for the term 'sclerema neonatorum' to be replaced by 'subcutaneous fat necrosis'. Credit for first describing this condition is usually accorded to Cruse (1875, 1879), but McIntosh and his co-workers consider that Usenbenzius (1722) was responsible for the first description. In the newly born baby described below, bilateral axillary swellings were unexpectedly shown by biopsy examination to be the sites of fat necrosis.