Thoracic endometriosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Coincidence or hormonal rational?

• Published in: Revue des maladies respiratoires Vol. 38; no. 1; p. 108
• Main Authors: Agossou, M, Jean-Baptiste, S, Sanchez, B G, Ehret, N, Barzu, R, Aline-Fardin, A, Venissac, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Sex hormones; Hormones sexuelles; Pneumothorax; femme jeune; Endometriosis; Lymphangioléiomyomatose; Young woman; Endométriose; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2020.08.014

Lymphagioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and endometriosis are two diseases that occur in young women. The main thoracic complication of both diseases is pneumothorax. We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with a right-sided pneumothorax. The clinical context and the perioperative findings were suggestive of thoracic endometriosis, while the histology of the pulmonary biopsy and the evolution of her case were in favour of LAM. This presentation indicates the coexistence of the two diseases, which has never previously been described in the literature. The case raises the question as to whether it should be policy to systematically undertake a pulmonary biopsy in cases of thoracic endometriosis. LAM and endometriosis are both diseases under hormonal influence. To date, we do not know if there is any direct link between the two diseases or if the presentation that we describe here occurred by chance.