Acute empyema with intractable pneumothorax associated with ruptured lung abscess caused by Mycobacterium avium.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease rarely features pleural involvement. Therapeutic strategies for this situation have not been well established. We present a case of acute empyema with intractable pneumothorax associated with ruptured lung abscess caused by Mycobacterium avium in an immunocompromised patient. Combined treatment that included multidrug antibiotic therapy and nonresectional surgery resulted in a good outcome.