Thoracic endometriosis presenting with bilateral haemothoraces: a rare but important cause of bilateral pleural effusions
Case report
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This case describes a woman treated for recurrent hemorrhagic pleural effusions confirmed as thoracic endometriosis after thoracoscopic biopsy, with resolution following hormonal therapy.
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Abstract
A woman in her 30s was admitted with 6 months of progressive shortness of breath and cyclical bilateral pleuritic chest pain associated with heavy, painful menstruation. She had a history of endometriosis. Chest X-ray revealed a large right pleural effusion requiring several aspirations. The pleural aspirate was haemorrhagic. Cytology revealed no malignant cells. CT thorax-abdomen-pelvis did not reveal any lung masses or pleural abnormalities. Pelvic MRI showed multiple uterine fibroids and a few simple left ovarian cysts. She re-presented a few months later with bilateral effusions, worse on the right than the left. The right required an intercostal drain. The left pleural aspirate was haemorrhagic, and cytology was the same as the right. She underwent right video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery directed pleural biopsies and diaphragmatic excision. Histology revealed endometrial tissue, confirming thoracic endometriosis. She was started on oral contraception, leading to resolution of the effusions.
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References (11)
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- Bilateral thoracic endometriosis affecting the lung and diaphragm via openalex
- Catamenial hemothorax: a perplexing tale of unilateral hemothorax via openalex
- CD10 immunohistochemical staining enhances the histological detection of endometriosis via openalex
- Pleural endometriosis and recurrent pneumothorax: the role of magnetic resonance imaging via openalex
- Recurrent pleural effusion secondary to endometriosis: a rare malady via openalex
- Thoracic Endometriosis: a Clinical Review and Update of Current and Evolving Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques via openalex
- Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome: A Review of Diagnosis and Management via openalex
- Thoracic endometriosis syndrome: Cutting the gordian knot - A case report and review of the literature via openalex
- W4405370504 via openalex
- W1982840352 via openalex
Source provenance
- europepmc
- last seen: 2026-10-17T06:09:56.316927+00:00
- openalex
- last seen: 2026-09-30T06:08:52.026869+00:00
- pubmed
- last seen: 2026-10-17T06:02:45.813028+00:00
- unpaywall
- last seen: 2026-10-17T06:24:38.187582+00:00
License: public-domain-us
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Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine