title: Pleural infections: a clinical-radiologic review.
abstract: Pleural space infection is a common disorder that may result from a wide variety of causes and is associated with a wide range of etiologic agents. The authors reviewed retrospectively records of 102 patients with discharge diagnoses of empyema and/or bronchopleural fistula. Chest radiographs and computed tomography closest to the time of initial diagnosis were evaluated separately. In 78 cases of empyema, the etiologies included primary pulmonary infections (49%), postsurgical (23%), traumatic (11.5%), intraabdominal pathology (5%), and unknown (11.5%). In 24 cases of bronchopleural fistulas, the etiologies were previous surgical procedures (37.5%), pulmonary infections (37.5%), traumatic (4%), and unknown (21%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Choplin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004653:Empyema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed