Mycotic aortic aneurysm probably caused by a pleural empyema
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical Policlinic, Clinical Radiology and Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Correspondence to:
Dr H Schmid
Medizinische Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstrasse 8a, D-80336 Munich, Germany; holger.schmidlrz.uni-muenchen.de
A 53 year old man was admitted with dyspnoea. A chest radiograph and CT scan suggested bilateral encapsulated pleural empyema (fig 1A and B). Pleural puncture produced a massive purulent discharge which grew Streptococcus pneumoniae, confirming the diagnosis. The CT scan also showed an enlarged diameter of the thoracic aorta near the diaphragm (4.25 cm; fig 1B). After starting treatment with antibiotics and pleural drainage with flushing, the patient …
