Catamenial Pneumothorax Fact Sheet: A Summary for your Doctor

Although the exact etiology is not fully understood, most physicians recognize that endometriosis plays a key role (3). In the literature, this condition is described at thoracic endometriosis (TE), thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES), or thoracic endometriosis-related pneumothorax (TERP). Documented case studies describe thoracic or pulmonary endometriosis as implants on the lung or pleura (5). More frequently however, articles describe cases involving diaphragmatic fenestrations (1). Some physicians attribute this damage to endometriosis and speculate that air passes into the pleural space through these holes (3, 5). Endometriosis is also thought responsible for hemothorax, hemoptysis, and intra-thoracic endometrial nodules (13).