A very rare cause of hemoptysis and chest pain lung endometriosis. A case report

Abstract

Hemoptysis can be caused by multiple conditions like tuberculosis, malignancies, bronchiectasis or pulmonary embolism. Sometimes, hemoptysis can be caused by other diseases, like vasculitis, lymphangioleiomiomatosis or other rare diseases. We present a clinical case of an 18 years old woman with recurrent mild hemoptysis. Thoracic computer tomography (CT) showed ground glass opacity and small micronodules in the right upper lobe. A thorough anamnesis revealed that the patient had catamenial hemoptysis that raised the hypothesis of pulmonary endometriosis, which is a challenge for every clinician. Spontaneous regression after one month and the repeated hemoptysis after five months linked to menstruation along with the same aspect on CT raised the diagnosis of thoracic endometriosis syndrome.The thoracic endometriosis is a rare and complex condition affecting women at childbearing age. The diagnosis is frequently difficult and histopathological confirmation is often required for positive diagnosis. Moreover, if the patient has typical clinical history and other differential diagnosis are ruled out, a presumptive diagnosis can be achieved.