Lung Abscess or Empyema: A Diagnostic Challenge.

The article in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society discusses a case of a 66-year-old man with a loculated fluid collection in the right hemithorax, diagnosed with empyema. It highlights the challenges in differentiating between lung abscess and empyema based on CT imaging findings and clinical presentation. The treatment for empyema involves antibiotic therapy, prompt drainage with chest tube thoracostomy, and, in some cases, intrapleural administration of tissue plasminogen activator/DNase. The article emphasizes the importance of early recognition of empyema to guide appropriate interventions and reduce morbidity and mortality. [Extracted from the article]