Catamenial pneumothorax

Catamenial pneumothorax
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Field	pulmonology
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Catamenial pneumothorax is a condition of air leaking into the pleural space (pneumothorax) occurring in conjunction with menstrual periods (catamenial refers to menstruation), and or during ovulation, believed to be caused primarily by endometriosis of the pleura (the membrane surrounding the lung or diaphragm).<ref name=mercksource>

Definition from mercksource.com (Dorlands Medical Dictionary)(link). {{{website}}}.

Accessed 2006-07-01.

</ref>

Signs and symptoms

Onset of lung collapse is less than 72 hours after menstruation. Typically, it occurs in women aged 30 to 40 years, but it has been diagnosed in young girls as early as 10 years of age and post menopausal women (exclusively in women of menstrual age), most with a history of pelvic endometriosis.

Pathophysiology

Endometrial tissue attaches within the thoracic cavity, forming chocolate-like cysts. Generally the parietal pleura is involved, but the lung itself, the visceral layer, the diaphragm, and more rarely the tracheobronchial tree may also be afflicted.<ref name=AmJMed>Joseph J, Sahn SA,

 Thoracic endometriosis syndrome: new observations from an analysis of 110 cases, 
 Am J Med, 
 1996,
 Vol. 100(Issue: 2),
 pp. 164–70,
 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9343(97)89454-5,
 PMID: 8629650,</ref> The mechanism through which endometrial tissue reaches the thorax remains unclear. Defects in the diaphragm, which are found often in affected individuals, could provide an entry path,<ref name=chest>Alifano M, Roth T, Broet SC, Schussler O, Magdeleinat P, Regnard JF, 
 Catamenial pneumothorax: a prospective study, 
 Chest, 
 2003,
 Vol. 124(Issue: 3),
 pp. 1004–8,
 DOI: 10.1378/chest.124.3.1004,
 PMID: 12970030,</ref> as could microembolization through pelvic veins.<ref>Peikert T, Gillespie DJ, Cassivi SD, 
 Catamenial pneumothorax, 
 Mayo Clin Proc, 
 2005,
 Vol. 80,
 pp. 677–80,
 DOI: 10.4065/80.5.677,</ref>

The cysts can release blood; the endometrial cyst "menstruates" in the lung. Air can move in by an unknown mechanism. The blood and air cause the lung to collapse (i.e. catamenial hemopneumothorax).<ref>^ a b Glynis D. Wallace. Living With Lung And Colon Endometriosis: Catamenial Pneumothorax. Authorhouse, 2005. ISBN 1-4208-8331-3</ref>

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be hinted by high recurrence rates of lung collapse in a woman of reproductive age with endometriosis. CA-125 is elevated. Video-assisted thoracoscopy is used for confirmation.

Classification

Catamenial pneumothorax is the most common form of thoracic endometriosis syndrome, which also includes catamenial hemothorax, catamenial hemoptysis, catamenial hemopneumothorax and endometriosis lung nodules, as well as some exceptional presentations.<ref name=Bricelj>Bricelj K,

 A systematic review, 
 Wien Klin Wochenschr, 
 2017,
 Vol. 129(Issue: 19–20),
 pp. 717–726,
 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-017-1237-4,
 PMID: 28762057,</ref>

Treatment

Pneumothorax can be a medical emergency, as it can become associated with decreased lung function, and if progressed to tension pneumothorax, potentially fatal. In many cases, catamenial pneumothorax will resolve spontaneously and not require immediate intervention. In more severe cases, a chest tube may be required to release air and/or blood and to allow the lung to re-expand.

Surgery, hormonal treatments and combined approaches have all been proposed, with variable results in terms of short and long term outcome.<ref name=Peikert_2005>,

 Catamenial pneumothorax: case report and review of the literature, 
 Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 
 2005,
 Vol. 80(Issue: 5),
 pp. 677–680,
 DOI: 10.4065/80.5.677,
 PMID: 15887438,</ref> Surgical removal of the endometrial tissue should be endeavoured during menstruation for optimal visualisation of the cyst.<ref name=asian>Poyraz AS, Kilic D, Hatipoglu A, Demirhan BA, 
 A very rare entity: catamenial pneumothorax, 
 Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, 
 2005,
 Vol. 13(Issue: 3),
 pp. 271–3,
 DOI: 10.1177/021849230501300317,
 PMID: 16113003,</ref> Pleurodesis may also be helpful. Menstruation and accompanying lung collapse can be suppressed with hormone therapy,<ref name=eMedicine>radio/563 at eMedicine

</ref> like with Lupron Depot, danazol or extended cycle combined oral contraceptive pills, or GnRH antagonist medications.

Epidemiology

Some sources claim this entity represents 3 to 6% of pneumothorax in women.<ref name="eMedicine" /> In regard of the low incidence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (i.e. not due to surgical trauma etc.) in women (about 1/100'000/year),<ref name="eMedicine" /> this is a very rare condition. Hence, many basic textbooks do not mention it, and many doctors have never heard of it. Therefore, catamenial pneumothorax is probably under-recognized.<ref name="chest"/>

External links

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