Catamenial pneumothorax with umbilical and diaphragmatic endometriosis: a case report and review of the literature

The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists. SMJ // Article Case Report Catamenial Pneumothorax with Umbilical and Diaphragmatic Endometriosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature Abstract A 44-year-old female presented with a history of recurrent right-sided pneumothoraces, uterine fibroids, and a palpable lump in her navel. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO) and resection of the umbilical nodule was performed. Intraoperative inspection of the right hemidiaphragm revealed adherent brownish-blue nodules without any associated diaphragmatic defects and a similar-appearing nodule at the umbilicus. She had no symptoms of pelvic endometriosis, nor did surgical exploration reveal any. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she denied recurrent pneumothorax at 12-month followup. Recurrent pneumothoraces in women of a reproductive age should raise the suspicion of thoracic endometriosis. Failure to establish the diagnosis prevents appropriate curative interventions. Key Points * The diagnosis of thoracic endometriosis is often delayed because of lack of awareness of the disorder and failure to recognize the temporal relationship of signs and symptoms with menses. * Typically, but not universally, thoracic endometriosis occurs in association with pelvic endometriosis. * Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is generally curative for thoracic manifestations of endometriosis. This content is limited to qualifying members. Existing members, please login first If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options. Purchase only this article ($25) Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours. Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75) Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year. Purchase a membership plan (fees vary) Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.