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Catamenial pneumothorax

Case contributed by Stefan Tigges
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

Repeated pneumothoraces during menses.

Patient Data

Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Small right pneumothorax, otherwise normal.

ct

Small right pneumothorax with small right-sided visceral pleural implants.

Case Discussion

Catamenial pneumothorax is thought to occur because of pleural endometrial implants that cause pneumothorax around the time of menstruation. The right side is much more frequently involved than the left, possibly due to the clockwise flow of peritoneal fluid that delivers future pleural implants to the right side first, where they presumably cross diaphragmatic defects to reach the pleural space.

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