Thoracic ultrasonography in the diagnosis and follow-up of lung abscess

Abstract

Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is a long-established imaging modality with proven efficacy and reliability in the diagnosis of numerous pleuro-parenchymal diseases. Lung abscess (LA) is an infectious disease characterized by liquefactive necrosis and cavitation within the pulmonary parenchyma, typically occurring in immunosuppressed patients or those with various risk factors. Its treatment involves effective antibiotic therapy and, in rare cases, drainage or surgery. Obtaining a sample from the LA, when feasible, is crucial for initiating targeted therapy based on the pathogen identified in the culture. In this case report, we present a 44-year-old female patient hospitalized for an LA. The abscess was visualized via TUS, sampled under ultrasound guidance and successfully managed with ongoing ultrasonographic monitoring.