What is Necrosis?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
5. Fat Necrosis
As the name suggests, fat necrosis is a variety of necrosis that affects the body’s fat cells. More specifically, the cells affected are adipocytes, which are specialized cells that allow the body to store energy in the form of fat. It occurs when damage has occurred to an area of fatty tissue, and it is not uncommon in cases of breast cancer.
It is also associated with pancreatitis. Fat necrosis results in enzymes breaking down the cells and this causes fatty acids to be released, and these then appear on the skin as white blotches. Fat necrosis is thankfully usually not dangerous to the patient.
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