Catamenially recurring pneumothorax with partial liver herniation: a particular view.

Few cases of catamenial pneumothorax with complete or partial diaphragmatic hernias are reported in the literature. We present herein the case of a 38-year-old woman affected by recurrent right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax during menstrual periods. CT scan revealed normal lung parenchyma and multiple diaphragmatic nodes suspected for endometrial implants. The patient underwent right thoracoscopy and the presence of multiple diaphragmatic perforations of the tendinous part was observed as well as partial hepatic hernia. Through a video-assisted procedure, pleural biopsies and diaphragmatic plication containing the tendinous part with total pleural abrasion and talc pleurodesis were performed. No endometrial implants were found on histologic examination of pleural biopsies. The surgical procedure was uneventful and totally successful. On the basis of the clinical data and endoscopic view, we consider our case as catamenially recurring pneumothorax.