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Chest wall abscess: tubercular

Case contributed by Maulik S Patel
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Left-sided chest wall swelling - few weeks. No cough/fever/significant pain

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

There is homogeneous haziness in the left lower zone along the inner chest wall. It shows a well-defined medial margin. The left hemidiaphragm shows mild elevation.

ultrasound

Collection with mobile internal echoes abutting a rib without causing rib cortical erosion.

Approximate size - 35 x 25 x 15 mm.

Peri-collection hypervascularity.

No pleural effusion.

Case Discussion

Surgical exploration revealed an abscess that was drained. Histopathology (verbal communication with the operating surgeon): tuberculosis.

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