Chest CT Appearances

Pleural Empyema CT Findings

• Atypical pleural effusions along the mediastinum
• Pleural enhancement
• Pleural thickening > 4mm
• Fissure loculations
• Fat stranding
• Gas bubbles or microbubbles in the pleural space
• Layers of the pleura split around a collection of fluid (“split pleura” sign)

Other Information About Pleural Empyema

Etiology:

• Most common cause is bacterial pneumonia
• Less common causes include tuberculosis, lung abscess, and chest trauma or surgery

Epidemiology:

• Anyone is susceptible to pleural empyema

Presentation:

• Chest pain
• Dyspnea
• Cough
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Malaise

Prognosis:

• Must be treated promptly
• Treated patients usually have a good prognosis
• Patients with comorbidities have an increased rate of mortality