CTICasesCavitating Pulmonary Infarct secondary to Pulmonary Embolism
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Imaging findings
Initial CT shows diffuse ground glass opacity. Subsequent studies reveal a large, thick-walled cavity in the right upper lobe, an evolution from a large peripheral infarct with acute pulmonary emboli. There is also a large pleural effusion with some pleural thickening. The infarct appears somewhat typical of a hemorrhagic infarct, though air bronchograms are present, which are less common in infarcts.
Key takeaways
While pulmonary emboli typically lead to hemorrhagic infarcts without cavitation, a large area of hemorrhage or a large hemorrhagic infarct can rarely result in cavity formation due to coagulative necrosis. Infection may promote cavitation but was not definitively present in this case. This is an unusual but recognized complication of pulmonary embolism and infarction.
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