[Thoracoscopic study of 6 cases of catamenial pneumothorax]

Abstract

Six new cases seen personally, and 72 cases of catamenial pneumothorax found in the literature have had thoracoscopic talcage. We shall discuss several peculiarities of this syndrome: its relative rarity, symptoms linked to periods, the specific and unique endopleural aspects, confirming certain pathogenetic theories, the first among which is pleural endometriosis. Therapeutic methods are also discussed, stressing the sharing of the association between pleural symphysis surgically and above all by thoracoscopy with antigonadotrophic hormone therapy an association which alone gives good results in 95% of cases.