Thoracic endometriosis syndrome: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome is the presence of endometrial tissue in or around the lung. Thoracic endometriosis syndrome consists of four distinct clinical entities: catamenial pneumothorax, catamenial hemothorax, hemoptysis, and pulmonary nodules. Thoracic endometriosis syndrome is a rare and complex condition, and diagnosis is often delayed or missed by clinicians, which can result in recurrent hospitalizations and other complications. Current treatments include hormone therapy and, where warranted, surgical intervention. We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with endometriosis causing bowel obstruction and concurrent catamenial pneumothorax.

Figure 1A.

Computed tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrating small bowel and colonic dilation.

Figure 1B.

Computed tomography scan of the chest demonstrating a small, right-sided pneumothorax.

Figure 2A.

High-power photomicrograph of bowel endometriosis (haematoxylin and eosin stained; original magnification 40×). Printed with permission from Danielle MP Cronin, MD.

Figure 2B.

Low-power photomicrograph of bowel endometriosis (haematoxylin and eosin stained; original magnification 20×). Printed with permission from Danielle MP Cronin, MD.

Figure 3.

An example (not from our patient) of large diaphragmatic fenestrations. Reprinted from the Journal of Emergency Medicine, 43(1), Makhija Z, Marrinan M, A case of catamenial pneumothorax with diaphragmatic fenestrations, e1–3, 2012, with permission from Elsevier.