Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2007 Nov;50(11):1576-1580.
A case of pulmonary endometriosis presenting with catamenial pneumothorax
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. chkim@amc.seoul.kr
Abstract
- Endometriosis is a relatively common gynecologic disease. However thoracic endometriosis syndrome is exceedingly rare among various types of external endometriosis. We experienced a case of 35-year-old woman who presented with recurrent episodes of spontaneous right-sided pneumothorax that occurred during her menstrual periods. After the localization of the disease site by means of chest radiography and computed tomography of the thorax, a chest tube was inserted after which bullectomy and pleurodesis using doxycycline were performed. A hormonal treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for 12-months was also conducted. However, right-sided pneumothorax recurred two times after these procedures. Subsequently, surgical excision of diaphragmatic lesion along with pleurodesis was underwent. To prevent recurrence, we maintained long-term GnRH agonist administration with add back therapy using low dose estrogen-progesterone. Menstruation stopped, and the chest pain disappeared. During a 19-months follow-up period, pneumothorax did not recur. We report this case with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
