Presentation
Repeated pneumothoraces during menses.
Patient Data
Age: 30 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Catamenial pneumothorax
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Small right pneumothorax, otherwise normal.
From the case:
Catamenial pneumothorax
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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.