Empyema necessitatis: an uncommon and rare complication of pleural infections

Abstract

Empyema necessitatis is a rare disease that is not really common nowadays reason why there is not much information about it. This article describes the clinical case of an 87- year old patient who presented a visible thoracic mass and painful on palpation and when coughing. The study of Computed Axial Tomography (CT) with contrast showed lung expansion comparatively with less expansion on the left lung. This also revealed a hypodense collection of approximately 180cc of volume which extended through the chest wall. A posterolateral left thoracotomy with organized abscess drainage of left chest was made.