The traumatic fat embolism syndrome is throught to be caused by the embolization of fat from traumatized tissues to the pulmonary microvasculature or by the precipitation of stress-mobilized serum lipids within the pulmonary vascular tree. Nontraumatic causes of fat embolism syndrome have been documented and include pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic liver disease, corticosteroid use, bone marrow transplantation, and osteomyelitis [261]. Release and embolization of marrow fat is presumed to occur primarily as a result of bone infarction or of marrow necrosis or replacement in these conditions.