Lung abscess

What it means

A circumscribed area of pus or necrotic debris in lung parenchyma, which leads to a cavity, and after formation of bronchopulmonary fistula, can manifest as an air-fluid level inside the cavity.

Lung abscess may occur in the context of unusual susceptibility to infection and is characteristic of phagocyte defects (chronic granulomatous disease), antibody deficiencies, and severe T-cell deficiencies, with typical pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus, and anaerobes.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Pulmonary abscess