Cavitation - Pneumonia
In virulent pyogenic infections an abscess may form within the consolidated lung as a result of necrosis due to vasculitis and thrombosis.
When some of the pus is coughed up, a cavity can be seen on the chest film.
These patients are usually very ill.
In granulomatous infection like TB, cavities may form, but these patients are usually not that ill.
Cavitation is not seen in viral pneumonia, mycoplasma and rarely in streptococcus pneumoniae.
These images are of a young patient with pneumonia.
No micro-organism could be isolated.
Within one month after treatment with antibiotics, there was almost complete resolution of the consolidation and the cavity. #Clinical #Radiology #CXR #CTChest #Cavity #Pneumonia #CavitaryPneumonia #RadiologyAssistant