Empyema necessitatis in a patient on peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of an empyema. Although the incidence is thought to be decreased in the post-antibiotic era, immunocompromised patients such as patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis are still at a higher risk. A 56-year-old woman on peritoneal dialysis presented with an enlarging mass on the right anterior chest wall. The chest computed tomography scan revealed an empyema necessitatis and the histopathologic findings revealed a granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculous medication.