[Purulent pericarditis during abscess-forming pneumonia]

The case is described of a 6 months old infant who developed purulent pericarditis during the course of pneumonia. Pericarditis probably developed in this condition by contiguous spread from the pleura. Diagnosis of impending cardiac tamponade was masked by the occurrence of massive unilateral empyema. The management of this condition is discussed by open surgical drainage. Real-time two-dimensional echocardiography is useful for diagnosis and surveillance in this disease.