Description
The upper portion of the pleura is thickened and shows some roughening of the surface with flakes
of fibrin protruding. There is an abscess present approaching the pleura and measuring some 3 cm
across at its widest. The wall of the abscess merges with consolidated lung. The abscess contains
necrotic material. On the reverse of the specimen the consolidated lung is more clearly demarcated
and the pleural thickening more apparent. In the lower specimen the pleural exudate does not cover
the surface completely. The abscess cavity is larger and there is at least 1 small abscess in the
consolidated lung closeby.
History
This man, who died at the age of 51, had spent some 2 weeks in bed with gradually
worsening "influenza". At autopsy the lungs showed evidence of chronic obstructive respiratory
disease and there was an empyema on the right.