Pediatrics
Lung abscess
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Clinical manifestations of lung abscess are nonspecific and similar to those of pneumonia
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They include fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain, anorexia, hemoptysis, and putrid breath.
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The diagnosis is suggested by a chest radiograph demonstrating a thick-walled cavity with an air-fluid level and confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography .
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The most common complication of lung abscess is intracavitary hemorrhage.
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This can cause hemoptysis or spillage of the abscess contents with spread of infection to other areas of the lung .
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Other complications of lung abscess include empyema, bronchopleural fistula, septicemia, cerebral abscess, and inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone
Anterior view of a chest radiograph in a patient with thick-walled right lung abscess. The patient later developed a brain abscess.
Air fluid level
Radiology
Cavitation (abscess formation):
The air is then seen as a transradiancy within the consolidation and an air–fluid level may be present
CT is better and more sensitive than CXR for demonstrating cavitation
