[A case of thoracic empyema extended into the abdominal cavity]

A case of thoracic empyema after artificial pneumothorax for lung tuberculosis was presented, which extended into the abdominal cavity. 65 years old man, who was operated on for lung tuberculosis about 30 years ago, took the routine physical examination and the abdominal mass was picked up on examination. Echogram and CT showed huge homogeneous mass in the right thorax and the right upper abdominal cavity. The operative finding showed that thoracic empyema extended into the abdominal cavity and formed a huge mass. Decortication and extirpation of thoracic empyema and abdominal mass was performed with a combined partial resection of the lung, diaphragma, and thoracic wall. The histopathology of the abdominal mass showed chronic empyema and hematoma.