Thoracic endometriosis, a uncommon situation through which endometrial tissues develop round lungs, may cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest ache across the time of 1’s menstrual cycle. It is totally different from endometriosis, which is extra widespread, and the place cells much like the liner of the uterus develop exterior the uterus in decrease stomach and pelvic space. The situation will be identified utilizing Chest X-ray, Chest CT and Chest MRI. When endometriosis patches develop across the lungs, they will have life threatening issues. Thoracic endometriosis is the commonest kind of extragenital endometriosis. (Also learn: Tips to guard your lungs through the festive season)
What is thoracic endometriosis
“Thoracic endometriosis is a rare condition that may cause chest pain and shortness of breath around the time of your period. This condition develops when endometrial tissue grows inside your chest cavity, in or around your lungs,” says Dr Nisha Kapoor, Director & HOD, Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology & Advanced Gynae Laparoscopy, Marengo QRG Hospital, Faridabad.
What is endometriosis
Endometriosis is a standard situation through which cells much like the liner of the uterus (endometrium) develop exterior the uterus. It impacts roughly 6%–10% of reproductive-aged girls.
What is extragenital endometriosis
Around 12% of those that endure from endometriosis are estimated to expertise endometriosis of nonreproductive organs, known as extragenital endometriosis. The commonest website of endometriosis exterior abdominopelvic cavity is inside the thoracic cavity.
Causes of thoracic endometriosis
“Many theories have been proposed but the exact cause for endometriosis is unknown. Most commonly accepted theory is retrograde flow of menstrual blood in which menstrual blood doesn’t come out of the uterus via cervix, but instead spreads into the abdominal cavity via spill through tubes. The route to the lungs is possibly due to fragments of endometrial tissue going to the lungs via bloodstream due to manipulation of pelvic organs, especially during pelvic surgeries for endometriosis,” says Dr Kapoor.
Symptoms of thoracic endometriosis
“This endometrial tissue responds to hormones during the menstrual cycle. Most symptoms are catamenial (cyclical, during periods every month) and can come up as chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, cyclical haemoptysis (blood in sputum) and also chronic fatigue. It may cause life threatening complications like a collapsed lung too,” says Dr Kapoor.
Diagnosis of thoracic endometriosis
This situation will be identified utilizing chest X-ray, chest CT and chest MRI. Although, direct visualisation of the endometriosis tissue by way of bronchoscopy and its biopsy is confirmatory.
How to handle thoracic endometriosis
“First line of management includes medicines to suppress ovarian hormone production, like OCPs (birth control pills), GnRH agonists etc. Condition can be surgically managed by VATS which is Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (gold standard treatment) which is a modality to clear the pleural cavity of endometriotic tissue. Another important aspect of treatment is the pain relief by analgesics especially during periods.
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