Catamenial pneumothorax, a commonly misdiagnosed thoracic condition: case report.

A 43-year-old woman presented with right-sided chest discomfort associated with dyspnea. The symptoms were related to the menstrual cycle and the patient has already presented several similar episodes. The Chest computed tomography (chest-CT) showed a partial right pneumothorax. A thoracoscopy was performed and demonstrated some diaphragmatic fenestrations. The diagnosis of a catamenial pneumothorax was established. The catamenial pneumothorax is a rare condition affecting the women in the reproductive period and is located most of the time in the right-side. The treatment is mainly surgical with the realization of a thoracoscopy. However, a medical treatment may be sometimes necessary.