Starvation

Starvation is due to lack of food, inability or lack of desire to eat.

General

Associations - serous fat atrophy:

• Acute febrile states.
• AIDS.
• Alcoholism.
• Anorexia nervosa.
• Cachexia.
• Carcinomas.
• Chronic heart failure.
• Lymphoma.

Gross

• Very low body mass index (BMI).
• Serous fat atrophy:
  • Soft brown/myxoid material replaces fat.

Microscopic

Features:

• Globular cells 3-4x a RBC with:
  • Clear cytoplasm.
  • One small peripheral nucleus.

DDx:

• Signet ring cell carcinoma.

Images:

• Serous fat atrophy - intermed mag. (WC).
• Serous fat atrophy - very high mag. (WC).

See also

• Autopsy.