Tuberc Respir Dis.  1979 Sep;26(3):41-51. 10.4046/trd.1979.26.3.41.

A Clinical Observation on Lung Abscess

• KMID: 2528901
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1979.26.3.41

Abstract

A clinical study was performed on 102 cases of lung abscess admitted in Severance Hospital during last 7 years of period from 1970 to 1976. The results are summerized as follows: 1. The ratio of male to female was 4.1:1. Most patients were in the age group between the fourth and sixth. decades (70%). 2. The most common predisposing factor of lung abscess was pneumonia(24.5%). Aspiration (19.6 %), bronchial obstruction (5.9 %), metastatic lung abscess (1 %) were found in the order of frequency. The etiologic predisposing factor was uncertain in 49 % of all cases. 3. The common clinical manifestations were cough, purulent sputum, fever and chill, chest pain, hemoptysis, dyspnea and anorexia in the order of frequency. 4. Bacteriologic studies of the sputum with culture were revealed alpha-streptococcus(79.4%), Aerobacter (19.5 %). pseudomonas (10.8 %). staphylococcus(5.4 %). beta-streptococcus (5.4 % ) in the orde- of frequency. organisms more thana n one were found in 42 cases(56.4%). 5. The most frequent location of lung abscess was right lower l0be(30%), right upper lobe (28 %), left lower lobe (20 %). left upper lobe(8%) were common site in the order of frequency· 6. Eighty-eight out of 102 cases (86.3 %) were treated with medical treatment. 14 cases(13.7%) required surgical therapy. 7. The mortality rate of 102 cases with lung abscess was 8.8%(9cases). 8. The diagnostic value of sputum culture was limited. prospective stuy through transtracheal aspiration. bronchoscopy. transthoracic lung puncture etc. are recommanded for better pathogenic identification of lung abscess.