case_images: PMC10894526_01
case_images: Serial CT imaging. A: Day 0: left lower lobe consolidation with trace effusion. B: Day 5: development of a large effusion. C: Day 16: decreased effusion with thick septations. Arrows point to the patient's pleural effusion.
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052986-i01.jpg
case_images: PMC10894526_01_cureus-0016-00000052986-i01.jpg
case_images: FIG1
case_images: The CT chest (Figure 1A), however, did show evidence of left lower lobe consolidation, and hence, the patient was discharged home on cefdinir, treating community-acquired pneumonia. CT chest (Figure 1B) that showed an unchanged large loculated left pleural effusion with associated compressive atelectasis. Consequently, on day five, a left chest tube was placed under ultrasound guidance, draining 150 ml of yellow clear fluid (Table 1). Two days later, the CT chest showed a marked interval size decrease in the pleural effusion (Figure 1C).
case_images: Serial Chest X-rays. (A) Day two. (B) Day two post thoracentesis. (C) Day four. (D) Day six following placement of chest tube. (E) Day nine following completion of fibrinolytic therapy. (F) Day 15 following placement of a larger caliber chest tube. (G) Day 17 after removal of a chest tube. (H) Day 26 post-discharge showing a small residual effusion. (I) Day 26 post-discharge lateral chest x-ray. Arrows point to the patient's pleural effusion.
case_images: cureus-0016-00000052986-i02.jpg
case_images: PMC10894526_01_cureus-0016-00000052986-i02.jpg
case_images: FIG2
case_images: A subsequent chest x-ray (CXR) (Figure 2) showed an increasing moderate size left pleural effusion with left midlung and lower lobe consolidating infiltrates. A repeat CXR (Figure 2C) showed stable, moderately large, partially loculated left pleural effusion. The chest tube remained on suction with daily chest X-rays (Figure 2E) showing a small persistent left pleural effusion; consequently, a chest tube with a larger caliber was placed on day 14. Repeat chest imaging (Figure 2H, 2I) done 26 days after discharge revealed a small residual pleural effusion with pleural thickening.