Early echo-guided percutaneous aspiration of peripheral lung abscesses in children: report of two cases.

A 9 year-old boy and a 7 year-old girl suffered from fever and chest pains before they were brought to Chang Gung Children's Hospital. Chest radiographs and computed tomography scans showed lung abscesses with pleural attachment, and using echo-guidance, percutaneous aspirations were done which confirmed the growth of Fusobacterium sp, and Veillonella parvula respectively, both of which are susceptible to penicillin G. The fever and chest pains subsided within 24 hours after the procedure. We suggest using early percutaneous aspiration of peripheral located lung abscesses soon after admission, rather than after a 10-14 day trial of antibiotic therapy: it can be a safe and cost-effective procedure to shorten the duration of the parenteral antibiotic treatment and hospitalization.