Empyema thoracis complicated by pneumothorax necessitans manifesting as lobulated, localized subcutaneous emphysematous swellings

Yeh Chunn Kuan; Soon Hin How; Wing Choy Yeen; Teck Han Ng; Abdul Rani Fauzi

doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.11.075

Empyema thoracis complicated by pneumothorax necessitans manifesting as lobulated, localized subcutaneous emphysematous swellings

Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 Jun;91(6):1969-71. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.11.075.

Authors

Yeh Chunn Kuan¹, Soon Hin How, Wing Choy Yeen, Teck Han Ng, Abdul Rani Fauzi

Affiliation

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia. [email protected]

PMID: 21619994
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.11.075

Abstract

We describe a patient with empyema thoracis that had eroded through the apical chest wall to the supraclavicular fossa and lung parenchyma, ultimately leading to a bronchopleural fistula manifesting as lobulated, localized subcutaneous emphysematous swellings over the chest wall and supraclavicular fossa. This is a rarely reported phenomenon and the reason why the lobulated subcutaneous emphysematous swellings remained localized is unknown.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Empyema, Pleural / complications*
Humans
Male
Pneumothorax / complications*
Subcutaneous Emphysema / etiology*