Liquefactive necrosis (or colliquative necrosis) is a type of necrosis which is characteristic of focal bacterial or fungal infections. In liquefactive necrosis, the affected cell is completely digested by hydrolytic enzymes, resulting in a soft, circumscribed lesion consisting of pus and the fluid remains of necrotic tissue. After the removal of cell debris by white blood cells, a fluid filled space is left. It is generally associated with abscess formation and is commonly found in the central nervous system.

For unclear reasons, hypoxic death of cells within the central nervous system also results in liquefactive necrosis.(Brain Infarction => Emollition) This is a process in which lysosomes turn tissues into soup as a result of lysosomal release of digestive enzymes in the face of bacterial onslaught. Loss of tissue architecture means that the tissue is essentially liquefied.