Catamenial pneumothorax, a commonly misdiagnosed thoracic condition: case report

Acta Chir Belg. 2023 Jun;123(3):305-308. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2021.1978148. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman presented with right-sided chest discomfort associated with dyspnea. The symptoms were related to the menstrual cycle and the patient has already presented several similar episodes. The Chest computed tomography (chest-CT) showed a partial right pneumothorax. A thoracoscopy was performed and demonstrated some diaphragmatic fenestrations. The diagnosis of a catamenial pneumothorax was established. The catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition affecting the women in the reproductive period and is located most of the time in the right-side. The treatment is mainly surgical with the realization of a thoracoscopy. However, a medical treatment may be sometimes necessary.

Keywords: Recurrent pneumothorax; catamenial pneumothorax; thoracoscopy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Endometriosis* / complications
  • Endometriosis* / diagnosis
  • Endometriosis* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pneumothorax* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumothorax* / surgery
  • Thoracoscopy

Supplementary concepts

  • Catamenial pneumothorax