Computed tomographic findings of neonatal lung abscess

T. Mayer, M. E. Matlak, V. Condon, I. Shasha and L. Glasgow

A 3-week-old child with respiratory distress had an air-fluid level on chest roentgenogram. Computed tomography of the chest distinguished the mass as a discrete lung abscess, without underlying abnormality. Due to failure of the child's condition to improve with medical therapy, a limited thoracotomy and drainage of the lung abscess was performed; Escherichia coli and no anaerobic organisms grew from cultures of abscess material. We believe computed tomography to be of great benefit in defining suspected lung abscess in the neonate.