Tracheostomy Care Gone Awry: A Rare Cause of Empyema

In patients with cancer, unilateral pleural effusion is typically due to malignancy or infection. Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a rare and often missed cause, particularly in patients with Tracheostomy. We report the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent chemoradiotherapy for tongue cancer and developed empyema secondary to a retained tracheostomy brush fragment. The foreign body was identified via imaging and bronchoscopy and successfully removed, with full recovery following antibiotics and drainage. This case highlights the need for clinical vigilance, proper tracheostomy care, and safe device design to prevent such avoidable complications.