Fifty -six cases of tuberculous peripleural abscess were experienced in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, college of medicine, Hallym university from January 1980 to June 1990. Tuberculous peripleural abscess seems to originate from the space between the parietal pleura and endothoracic fascia. But rib caries, originated by hematogenous spread of mycobacteria to the rib, shows the rib destruction first, thereafter periosteal erosion and regional tissue involvement follows. In our 56 cases, results were as follows: 1. Their age ranged from 6 to 82 years, and female dominant [M: F=21: 35]. 2. The locations of abscess were 31 right, 23 left, and 2 sternal portions. 3. On X ulcornerray findings, 37 cases showed active or old lesion of the tuberculosis in the lung field, 7 cases periosteal destruction of the ribs, and 29 cases pleural thickening. 4. Operative findings showed cold abscess with multiple fistulous tracts leading to intercostal space in most of the cases, and their origin were presumed to be from the space between the endothoracic fascia and parietal pleura. 5. The pus showed negative AFB stain in most of the cases except 3 cases. 6. Partial costectomy and radical curettage with drainage were performed in all cases. 7. 7 cases recurred after the first operations, but no recurrence after second operations.