[A case of pneumopericardium complicating a liver abscess in a patient infected with HIV]

Pneumopericardium usually occurs in a traumatic context or, more rarely, in the course of benign or malignant bronchial or oesophagogastric diseases. Although the idiopathic spontaneous form is even rarer, pneumopericardium complicating liver abscess is exceptional, and is facilitated by impaired immune defenses (alcoholism, immuno-depression). The authors report a case of liver abscess complicated by pneumopericardium in an HIV seropositive patient. The nature of the abscess, the mechanism of the pneumopericardium and the therapeutic management are discussed.