Parapneumonic empyema. A pitfall in diagnosis

Two patients eventually shown to have empyema were encountered in which the initial thoracentesis revealed fluid compatible with either a simple or a complicated parapneumonic effusion. In both cases, the diagnosis of empyema was made by a second thoracentesis done at a close interval of time from a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChest Vol. 101; no. 6; p. 1712
Main Authors Read, C A, Sporn, T A, Yeager, Jr, H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1992
Subjects
Adult
Empyema, Pleural - diagnosis
Empyema, Pleural - etiology
Female
Humans
Lung - diagnostic imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Pleural Effusion - diagnosis
Pleural Effusion - etiology
Pneumonia, Pneumococcal - complications
Pneumonia, Pneumococcal - diagnosis
Staphylococcal Infections - complications
Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Streptococcal Infections - complications
Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Two patients eventually shown to have empyema were encountered in which the initial thoracentesis revealed fluid compatible with either a simple or a complicated parapneumonic effusion. In both cases, the diagnosis of empyema was made by a second thoracentesis done at a close interval of time from a different site. Therefore, the physician should approach parapneumonic effusions systematically, and remember that in some cases, multiple thoracenteses may be required to make the correct diagnosis of an empyema.
ISSN:0012-3692
DOI:10.1378/chest.101.6.1712