Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2005 Dec;15(4):446-450.

A Case of Empyema Necessitatis in a Child

• An YW
• Chung EH
• Jung MJ
• Chang YP
• Park YS
• Ryu JW
• Lee YS

Abstract

Empyema necessitatis, which is a rare complications of empyema especially in immunocompromised conditions, extends pus from the thoracic cavity into surrounding soft tissues. The causes of empyema necessitatis are fungal infection, pulmonary tuberculosis and various types of pneumonia. A 9-year-old boy presented with a 7 day history of anterior chest pain and a coin sized palpable mass. Physical examination revealed a papable egg sized erythematous mass above the areola of the left chest. Laboratory data revealed acute inflammation. CT scans of chest demonstrated acute inflammation from the left anterior chest to the mediastinum and pericardium. He underwent sono guided thoracentesis and percutaneous aspiration of the mass and no organisms grew in a culture of pleural fluid and percutaneous aspiration. Tuberculin skin test was negative. The child was treated with antibiotics. Then, pain and the size of the mass decreased, follow up results of CT were resolved and he was discharged with oral antibiotics. We experienced a rare case of empyema necessitatis in 9-year-old child who was immunocompetent.

Keyword

Empyema; Complication; Child; Immunocompetence

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Chest Pain
Child*
Empyema*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunocompetence
Inflammation
Lung Diseases, Fungal
Male
Mediastinum
Numismatics
Ovum
Pericardium
Physical Examination
Pneumonia
Skin Tests
Suppuration
Thoracic Cavity
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tuberculin
Tuberculosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Tuberculin