Abstract
Pneumonectomy is the primary treatment for bronchogenic carcinoma in many patients with involvement of the ipsilateral bronchus or hilum [1 ]. Empyema, a rare complication of pneumonectomy, may occur within the postpneumonectomy space at any time postoperatively [21. Evaluation of the postpneumonectomy space for empyema by conventional chest radiography may be difficult because of air-fluid levels [3]. If no air-fluid levels are present, complete opacification of the affected side may obscure an underlying abnormality. Cornputed tomography (CT) has proven useful in evaluation of the postpneumonectomy space for recurrent disease, and the normal CT appearance of this space has been well described [3] (fig. 1A). To our knowledge, however, there have been no reports on the CT appearance of empyema within the postpneumonectomy space. We discuss these characteristic findings, emphasizing the usefulness of CT in evaluation of suspected empyema.
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