Multiple pulmonary abscesses (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission) - Commonly found post mortem
- Can be a consequence of:
- Septic emboli lodging in the pulmonary vessels
- Extension from severe focal suppurative bronchopneumonia
- Aspiration of foreign material (see aspiration pneumonia)
- 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.
