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Cathamenial pneumothorax.
S Gerlinzani1, M Tos, D Poliziani
1Università degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Cattedra di Chirurgia Generale, Divisione di Chirurgia Generale II, Via G. B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Surgical Endoscopy
|May 9, 2002
Summary
Catamenial pneumothorax, a rare condition causing recurrent collapsed lungs during menstruation, was treated in a patient with endometriosis. Surgical intervention revealed lung blebs, not diaphragmatic defects, leading to successful treatment.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Gynecologic Pathology
Background:
- Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition characterized by recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax coinciding with menstruation.
- Pelvic endometriosis is often associated with catamenial pneumothorax, though the exact pathophysiology remains debated.
Observation:
- A 34-year-old female presented with recurrent pneumothorax refractory to chest drainage, temporally linked to her menstrual cycle.
- The patient had a history of pelvic endometriosis.
Findings:
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic exploration (VATS) identified dystrophic parenchymal blebs in the middle lobe.
- Atypical resection of the blebs and pleurodesis were performed.
- No diaphragmatic fenestrations or ectopic endometriosis foci were observed during VATS.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering parenchymal lung disease in catamenial pneumothorax, even in patients with endometriosis.
- Surgical management involving bleb resection and pleurodesis can be effective.
- The absence of diaphragmatic defects challenges some etiological theories for this condition.