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A case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma simulating empyema necessitatis
Yookyung Kim1, Sun Wha Lee, Hae Young Choi
1Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University, MokDong Hospital, 911-1 MokDong YangCheon-Ku, Seoul 158-710, South Korea. yookkim@ewha.ac.kr
Clinical Imaging
|May 3, 2003
Summary
A diabetic patient with chronic tuberculous empyema developed a chest wall mass. Surgical removal revealed it was a rare case of non-Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Oncology
- Infectious disease
Background:
- Chronic tuberculous empyema can lead to complex thoracic complications.
- Chest wall masses are rare presentations in patients with a history of tuberculosis.
Observation:
- A diabetic male with a 40-year history of tuberculous empyema presented with fever, chest pain, and a bulging right chest wall mass.
- CT imaging demonstrated a large chest wall mass with extensive necrosis, air-bubbles, and rib destruction.
Findings:
- Surgical intervention included decortication and extirpation of the chest wall mass.
- Histopathologic examination confirmed the mass as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering rare malignant transformations in chronic thoracic infections.
- It underscores the need for thorough investigation of persistent chest wall abnormalities in patients with a history of empyema.
- Early diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for improving outcomes in such complex cases.