Empyema presenting over thirty years after pulmonary tuberculosis.
Four patients are described who presented with empyema between 32 and 53 years after pulmonary tuberculosis had been treated by artificial pneumothorax (A.P.) without chemotherapy. Diagnostic problems included non-specific radiographic features and failure to find a causative organism. Empyema should be considered when patients with old pulmonary tuberculosis deteriorate and there are non-specific radiographic changes. Antituberculosis chemotherapy, or even decortication, may be indicated if a pyogenic organism cannot be found.
D000368:Aged; D004653:Empyema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications*