A cavitating area of localised suppurative infection within the lung
Causes/Factors
- Inadequately treated pneumonia
- Aspiration
- Bronchial obstruction
- Pulmonary Infarction
- Subphrenic or hepatic abscess
Clinical Features
- Swinging fever
- Productive cough - bad smelling sputum
- Pleuritic pain
- Haemoptysis
- Malaise
- Weight loss
- Finger clubbing
Diagnostic Tests
- Bloods - FBC, ESR, CRP, culture
- Sputum culture
- CXR: walled cavity often with fluid level
- Bronchoscopy for specimen
Management
- Antibiotics
- Drainage