LUNG ABSCESS - A NEGLECTED CAUSE OF LIFE-THREATENING HEMOPTYSIS

Three cases who presented with life threatening haemoptysis are report ed, all of whom required surgery to control the bleeding. In all three patients chronic lung abscess was responsible for the haemoptysis. Ev en in the absence of typical clinical or radiographic features of an a bscess this diagnosis should be considered in any patient presenting w ith life threatening haemoptysis.