Empyema necessitans due to Nocardia farcinica

An 84-year-old female with severe liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C presented with a progressive bulging of the anterior chest wall for two weeks. On examination, 7 cm × 7 cm × 5 cm large subcutaneous mass was on the anterior chest wall and contrast enhanced computed tomography of the chest demonstrated loculated empyema with extension through the chest wall, into the anterior with rib destruction. Microscopic appearance of the abscess revealed filamentous branching rods, and eventually Nocardia farcinica was identified using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight. The patient was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and subcutaneous debridement. In general, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Actinomyces spp. are the most common causative pathogens of empyema necessitans, and cases of Nocardia spp. are rarely seen. Clinicians should pay attention to the possibility of nocardial empyema necessitans in immunocompromised patients.