Nocturnal Hypoxemia, an Unusual Presentation of Pulmonary Endometriosis: A Case Report

André Borsatto Zanella, Pedro Paulo Martins de Oliveira, Renato Seligman, Beatriz Graeff Santos Seligman, Tânia Weber Furlanetto
In: Journal of Medical Cases · 2012 · vol. 3(6) , pp. 352–354 · doi:10.4021//jmc.v3i6.778 · W1993085140
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This case report details the incidental diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis in a patient who presented with nocturnal hypoxemia and hemoptysis, confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage and resolving with the cessation of menstruation.

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Abstract

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome is a rare condition with four main presentations: pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemoptysis, and lung nodules. We describe an incidental diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis in a patient admitted with acute pyelonephritis, and developed acute hypoxemia and a productive cough of blood tinted sputum , on the third day of hospitalization. Her thoracic x-ray showed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates , and a small pleural effusion. C hest computerized tomography scan had extensive areas of ground glass opacifications scattered predominantly in the medulla of both lungs . B ronchoalveolar lavage c ytology showed small groups of cells in arrays compatible with endometrial cells, which confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis. On the seventh day of hospitalization, after the end of her menstrual bleeding, oxygen supplementation was discontinued, and hypoxemia did not recur. A chest x-ray at the ninth day of hospitalization was normal. Pulmonary endometriosis should be considered in a patient who has unexplained episodes of nocturnal hypoxemia associated with hemoptysis, especially if there is periodicity. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jmc778w

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Condition tags

endometriosisthoracic_endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (10)

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