Pulmonary Abscesses

Multiple pulmonary abscesses (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)

• Commonly found post mortem
• Can be a consequence of:

1. Septic emboli lodging in the pulmonary vessels
2. Extension from severe focal suppurative bronchopneumonia
3. Aspiration of foreign material (see aspiration pneumonia)
4. Direct penetration

• The pattern of abscessation can suggest the aetiology i.e. multiple widespread abscesses suggest a haematogenous origin; isolated cranioventral abscesses usually arise from suppurative pneumonia.