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Review
. 2013 Oct 1;7(10):1-6.
doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v7i10.1483. eCollection 2013 Oct.

A case of multisystem endometriosis

Pardeep Athwal  1 , Krishna Patel  1 , Cameron Hassani  2 , Shapour Bahadori  1 , Peter Nardi  2
Affiliations
Review

A case of multisystem endometriosis

Pardeep Athwal et al. J Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare complication secondary to pleural endometriosis. We present a case of a 37-year-old-female with a history of recurrent pneumothoraces with an associated temporal relationship to the onset of her menses. In addition to her recurrent pneumothoraces, on further evaluation, she was found to have multiple nodular masses within the omentum. A thoracoscopic biopsy was subsequently performed, which showed endometrial implants within the pleural space and within the omental cavity. The radiological features and pathogenesis of this rare disease are reviewed and discussed with reference to relevant literature.

Keywords: Endometriosis; abdominal pain; catamenial pneumothorax; chest pain; chocolate cysts; pneumothorax.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
37 year old female with catamenial penumothorax. Initial axial non contrast enhanced CT of the chest with lung windows demonstrating a non specific right lobe pneumothorax (yellow arrows). Axial image of CT Chest without contrast in lung window. KV=120. Slice thickness: 3mm
Figure 2
Figure 2
37 year old female with catamenial pneumothorax. Follow up axial CT in soft tissue windows demonstrates pleural nodules (yellow arrow) which were biopsy proven endometrial implants. Red arrow demonstrates a unilateral right sided pleural effusion, which measured 35 hounsfield units. Axial image of CT Chest without contrast in mediastinum window. KV=120. Slice thickness: 3mm
Figure 3
Figure 3
37 year old female with catamenial pneumothorax. Axial CT of the abdomen shows multiple nodular densities located within the omentum (yellow arrows). These were biopsy proven endometrial implants. Axial image of CT Abdomen without IV contrast, with oral contrast (1000cc of Gastrograffin) in abdominal window. KV=120. Slice thickness: 5mm
Figure 4
Figure 4
37 year old female with catamenial pneumothorax. Axial CT of the abdomen/pelvis with oral and IV contrast shows bilateral cystic adnexal masses (orange arrows). These were biopsy proven to be “chocolate cysts” compatible with endometriosis of the bilateral ovaries. Axial image of CT pelvis without IV contrast, with oral contrast (1000cc of Gastrograffin) in abdominal window. KV=120. Slice thickness: 5mm
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