[Tuberculous abscess in the chest wall; report of a case].

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with left chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an abscess in the left lateral chest wall. Bacterial examination of needle aspiration biopsy specimen from the chest wall abscess disclosed positive acid-fast bacilli. The size of chest wall abscess increased after initiation of antituberculous therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol hydrochloride and pyrazinamide, and therefore abscess drainage was subsequently performed. The lesion was resected after the abscess had diminished in size.