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

Kuan, Yeh Chunn; How, Soon Hin; Yeen, Wing Choy; Ng, Teck Han; Fauzi, Abdul Rani · Ann Thorac Surg · 2011

case_report · Level V

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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.

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