Thoracic Endometriosis - Signs, Symptoms and Treatments for Thoracic Endometriosis

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands outside the uterine cavity. When the glands grow outside the uterine cavity, they respond to hormonal changes wherever they grow and then bleed in the same way as the endometrial glands in the uterine cavity. But in this case, the blood gets trapped in the tissue as it cannot get out of the body unlike in the uterus. The blood thereby/then dried up and form cysts within the tissue. These endometrial glands can implant and grow in any parts of the body such as the pelvis, ovaries, fallopian tube, bowel and bladder.

When the endometrial tissue implants and grows in the lung or thorax, this is referred to as thoracic endometriosis. This condition is prevalent among women of reproductive age and those women aged between and 30 and 40 years. It usually manifests in the right lung, and a typical symptom of this health condition is chest pain, which is usually very severe at the time of menstruation. Other symptoms include painful cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, pain in the right lung and body weakness.

Although thoracic endometriosis is rare, its treatment options are readily available once you are diagnosed. As soon as you notice any of the symptoms, you should visit a doctor immediately. Generally, the approach to treatment for this condition is multidisciplinary involving a pneumologist, a thoracic surgeon and a gynaecologist, depending on the severity of the condition.

Treatments for this condition include hormonal therapy such as progesterone, this serves to reduce or eliminate menstruation in a controlled manner. Similarly, Danazol or GnRH is normally prescribed by the doctor. Their function is to suppress the growth of endometrial cell and thereby lowering the pain associated with this condition. Another form of treatment is the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the bleeding and inflammation in the lungs.

Surgery is another option for treating thoracic endometriosis, but this should be considered only after hormone therapy and the use of medication proves to be ineffective. The surgery is performed on the chest or thoracic cavity to remove any abnormalities in the lungs and thorax, including endometrial implants. The procedure normally involves the use of images that are shown on monitor screens such that the endometrial tissues are magnified. This technique is known as video-assisted thoracoscopy.

Thoracic endometriosis should be treated as early as possible. This is because if left untreated it can lead to respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia.