Are you aware Catamenial Pneumothorax has been added to the rare disease list at the NIH?

Question

Catamenial Pneumothorax is caused form endometriosis on the lung, which causes the lung to collapse.

New book, Living With Lung and Colon Endometriosis: Catamenial Pneumothorax available from amazon is a great reference source.

Answer 1

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SPT) is a well known condition among physicians. Air enters the pleural space around the lung, and causes the lung to collapse. What makes it spontaneous is that the collapse can occur without warning in a person who appears healthy, "the lung collapses for no apparent reason". Medically, this may be due to the rupture of "blebs", which are blister-like appendages on the lung. Blebs and bullae are generally confirmed through surgery.

SPT primarily affects tall thin men in their 20's and 30's. Women can also experience SPT, but statistically, it is rare. As such, it is not unreasonable to speculate that some women diagnosed with or treated for spontaneous pneumothorax, may actually have catamenial pneumothorax (CPT), which is not spontaneous at all! This is especially true for women who have had multiple collapses.

CPT, Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition characterized by a reoccurrence of air in the pleural space coinciding with the onset of menses. CPT was first described in literature in 1958. It is almost always right-sided, and generally affects women in their thirties and forties.

Although the exact etiology of the condition is unknown, most physicians agree that endometriosis is involved. Documented case studies have described endometrial implants on the lung or pleura. This condition is described as thoracic or pulmonary endometriosis. More frequently however, articles describe cases involving diaphragmatic fenestrations (holes in the diaphragm). Many researches attribute this damage to endometriosis and speculate that air passes into the pleural space through these holes. Endometriosis is also thought responsible for corresponding hemothorax (blood in the pleural space) although this condition is more rare than pneumothorax.

Case studies report women with CPT experiencing monthly chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue. Some women have experienced multiple lung collapses over a period of several years. Many of these women have also been diagnosed with pelvic endometriosis.

Answer 2

Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition characterized by a reoccurrence of air in the pleural space coinciding with the onset of menses. CPT was first described in literature in 1958. It is almost always right-sided, and generally affects women in their thirties and forties.
Although the exact etiology of the condition is unknown, most physicians agree that endometriosis is involved. Documented case studies have described endometrial implants on the lung or pleura. This condition is described as thoracic or pulmonary endometriosis. More frequently however, articles describe cases involving diaphragmatic fenestrations (holes in the diaphragm). Many researches attribute this damage to endometriosis and speculate that air passes into the pleural space through these holes. Endometriosis is also thought responsible for corresponding hemothorax (blood in the pleural space) although this condition is more rare than pneumothorax.
Case studies report women with CPT experiencing monthly chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue. Some women have experienced multiple lung collapses over a period of several years. Many of these women have also been diagnosed with pelvic endometriosis.

Answer 3

That's terrible to have.

Catamenial pneumothorax

Catamenial pneumothorax refers to the development of pneumothorax at the time of menstruation. Catamenial pneumothorax represents 3-6% of spontaneous pneumothorax in women. Typically, it occurs in women aged 30-40 years with a history of pelvic endometriosis (20-40%). It usually affects the right lung (90-95%) and occurs within 72 hours after the onset of menses. The recurrence rate in women receiving hormonal treatment is 50% at 1 year.

http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic563.htm

Answer 4

Yes, thank you for helping to bring awareness through your book [which is great!] and your internet posts like this. Most people don't "get it" about pelvic Endo, let alone extrapelvic/thoracic Endo. So keep up the great work. Thanks again.

Answer 5

i don't think it's endometriosis on the lung -- i think they correlate. never heard of this condition when i was in school. thanks for the info. i'll look it up.

Answer 6

no i wasnt aware , and thank you for bringing it to our attention, the people named above who dont seem bothered with your question might 1 day thank you for this information

Answer 7

great

Answer 8

how deathly dull.

Answer 9

how interesting....yawn.

Answer 10

Interesting thanks for the heads up