*Pneumothorax*

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**41**

women.

**Chapter 4**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

by Lillington et al. [2].

exist [3–6].

*Sezai Celik and Ezel Erşen*

Catamenial Pneumothorax

catamenial pneumothorax from diagnosis to treatment.

**Keywords:** pneumothorax, menstruation, catamenial, surgery

of pneumothorax in women are diagnosed to be CPX [9–12].

these findings, the diagnosis of the disease is made clinically.

age woman who suffer chest pain from spontaneous pneumothorax.

Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition in which spontaneous pneumothorax is recurrent. The incidence of catamenial pneumothorax has been underestimated for a few number of reasons. Recently, the etiology of catamenial pneumothorax has been more accurately diagnosed because of increased awareness and interest in the disease. Common and effective use of VATS technique contributed to better understanding of the disease. The management of the disease is difficult because of high recurrence rate. Operative and nonoperative interventions should be practiced more to prevent recurrences. Hormonal therapy should be added to treatment in selected cases. In this chapter, we will discuss all aspects of

Recurrent pneumothorax which is associated with menstruation is named as "catamenial pneumothorax" (CPX). It was first reported by Maurer et al. [1] and was presented to be a form of ectopic endometriosis and the term CPX was stated

"Catamenial" is a name from Greek meaning "monthly." CPX is most commonly

In the literature, CPX is defined to be a recurrent pneumothorax occurring up to 24 h before or within 72 h after the onset of menstruation [4, 6], and on the other hand, not necessarily appearing every month [7]. Symptoms and signs of CPX are mostly unspecific so much clinical suspicion has to be maintained [8]. CPX is a rare entity; however, regarding literature, about one-third of all surgically treated cases

Therefore, thoracic endometriosis should always be suspected in reproductive-

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome may be associated with other causes than pelvic endometriosis. In the first 24–48 h of menstruation, symptoms begin to appear and are usually seen on the right side of the chest. In 90% of the patients, chest pain is the most common symptom, and in one-third of the patients, shortness of breath is rarely seen, but hemoptysis is also added to the clinical picture [13]. In the light of

From 3 to 6% of spontaneous pneumothorax cases are catamenial pneumothorax, about one-third of all surgically treated cases of pneumothorax in affected

associated with endometriosis, but other etiological mechanisms of this disease
