Recurring spontaneous pneumothorax associated with menses

A case of catamenial pneumothorax in a 34-year-old woman is presented. Typically recurrent, right-sided pneumothorax associated with menses occurs in a 30- to 40-year-old woman with endometriosis. The right-sided occurrence is attributed to the frequency of congenital perforations of the right hemidiaphragm. Aberrant endometrial tissue is thought to gain access to the right hemithorax and cause pneumothorax with the menstrual slough. Therapy consists of ovulation-suppressing drugs or thoracotomy with pleural ablation for recurrent pneumothoraces. The physician should be aware of the syndrome to make a proper diagnosis.