Ultrasonographic Findings in Anterior Chest Wall Abscess

Abstract

Empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of empyema, in which the pleural infection spreads outside of the pleural space to involve the soft tissues of the chest wall, and is difficult to diagnose with sonography alone. In the case presented, sonography to evaluate a focal anterior chest wall pain in a patient resulted in findings consistent with an abscess and prompted additional workup. Further testing included sonography-guided aspiration and computed tomography scan to establish the diagnosis followed by surgical debridement.