Clinical and anamnestic features of patients with thoracic endometriosis

The prevalence of thoracic endometriosis is quite difficult to determine, as the main results of studies cited by some foreign and Russian authors are based on one or few clinical cases. The purpose — to clarify and systematize clinical and anamnestic features of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax against the background of verified thoracic endometriosis. Materials and methods. We examined 35 patients with verified thoracic endometriosis. The diagnosis of «thoracic endometriosis» was established by histologic verification after diagnostic videothoracoscopy. Histologic examination revealed endometrial glands and stroma. Results. According to our study, one of the risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax against the background of thoracic endometriosis may be a decrease in body weight. Our data make us assume with a high degree of probability that thoracic endometriosis has no reliable correlation with fertility and parity of patients. The main method of diagnosis and treatment of thoracic endometriosis is currently VATS with subsequent histologic examination. Conclusion. The anamnestic profile of patients with thoracic endometriosis can be as follows: patients of older reproductive age, with reduced body weight, often with a history of external genital endometriosis. The significance of concomitant extragenital diseases as risk factors for the thoracic endometriosis manifestations needs further study.