Lung abscess complicating transbronchial biopsy of a mass lesion.

We report a rare complication of transbronchial lung biopsy. A lung abscess developed after transbronchial biopsy of a peripheral mass lesion. Persistent fever, leukocytosis, and roentgenographic evidence of increase in size of the biopsied mass are useful clues for the diagnosis of pneumonia surrounding a tumor.