Empyema classification
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Empyema Microchapters |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]
Overview
Empyema may be classified according to the etiology, anatomical location, and pathological course of the disease.[1] Primary empyema occurs most commonly as iatrogenic empyema without associated pneumonia whereas secondary empyema happens more commonly secondary to pneumonia. Empyema necessitans is a spontaneous discharge of an empyema that has burrowed through the parietal pleura into the chest wall to form a subcutaneous abscess that may eventually rupture through the skin.[2][3] On the basis of etiology empyema is mostly caused by bacteria. It may be tuberculous or nontuberculous. Tuberculous empyema is the most common cause of empyema necessitans with majority of affected patients being immunocompromised.[4][5] There are 3 stages of empyema which are important in terms of the laboratory findings. These are exudative, fibrinopurulent and organizing.[6]
Classification
Empyema may be classified according to the etiology, anatomical location, and pathological course of the disease as follows:[1]
Primary vs secondary empyema
Primary empyema occurs most commonly as iatrogenic empyema without associated pneumonia whereas secondary empyema happens more commonly secondary to pneumonia.
Empyema necessitans
Empyema necessitans is a spontaneous discharge of an empyema that has burrowed through the parietal pleura into the chest wall to form a subcutaneous abscess that may eventually rupture through the skin.[2][3]
Tuberculous vs nontuberculous empyema
Tuberculous empyema is the most common cause of empyema necessitans. This disease can be found in patients with impaired immunity or who are immunocompetent howvever majority of patients affected are immunocompromised.[4][5]
Stages of empyema
Empyema may be classified according to the stage of the disease as follows:[7]
- Exudative
In the exudative stage, the pus accumulates, and initial sterile fluid becomes infected with fluid characteristics of;
- glucose>60
- pH>7.2
- LDH<500
- Fibrinopurulent
During this stage, bacterial multiplies with increase in polymorphs and fibrin deposition on both pleural surfaces with fluid characteristics of;
- glucose<40
- pH <7.2
- LDH>1000
- Organizing
This stage is characterized by loculations, inelastic membranous peel, and lung entrapment as a result of scarring of the pleural space.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Light RW (1995). "A new classification of parapneumonic effusions and empyema". Chest. 108 (2): 299–301. PMID 7634854.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gomes MM, Alves M, Correia JB, Santos L (2013). "Empyema necessitans: very late complication of [[pulmonary tuberculosis]]". BMJ Case Rep. 2013. doi:10.1136/bcr-2013-202072. PMC 3863066. PMID 24326441. URL–wikilink conflict (help)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ahmed SI, Gripaldo RE, Alao OA (2007). "Empyema necessitans in the setting of pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion". Am J Med Sci. 333 (2): 106–8. PMID 17301589.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Babamahmoodi F, Davoodi L, Sheikholeslami R, Ahangarkani F (2016). "Tuberculous Empyema Necessitatis in a 40-Year-Old Immunocompetent Male". Case Rep Infect Dis. 2016: 4187108. doi:10.1155/2016/4187108. PMC 4983337. PMID 27555974.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nishihara T, Hayama M, Okamoto N, Tanaka A, Nishida T, Shiroyama T; et al. (2016). "Endoscopic Bronchial Occlusion with Silicon Spigots for the Treatment of an Alveolar-pleural Fistula during Anti-tuberculosis Therapy for Tuberculous Empyema". Intern Med. 55 (15): 2055–9. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.55.6672. PMID 27477414.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Strange C, Tomlinson JR, Wilson C, Harley R, Miller KS, Sahn SA (1989). "The histology of experimental pleural injury with tetracycline, empyema, and carrageenan". Exp Mol Pathol. 51 (3): 205–19. PMID 2480911.
- ↑ Reichert M, Hecker M, Witte B, Bodner J, Padberg W, Weigand MA; et al. (2016). "Stage-directed therapy of pleural empyema". Langenbecks Arch Surg. doi:10.1007/s00423-016-1498-9. PMID 27815709.