title: Catamenial pneumothorax heralding menarche in a 15-year-old adolescent.
abstract: A case of spontaneous recurrent pneumothoraces (PTX) that has compelling features of a catamenial (CTM) origin is presented. A 15-year-old adolescent presented with a spontaneous PTX within 24 hours of menarche. A second PTX occurred one month later. While most cases of spontaneous PTX occur in male patients and are idiopathic, CTM PTX occur solely in menstruating female patients, have different treatment options, and recur with menses in the absence of appropriate therapy. Emergency practitioners should have a high clinical suspicion for CTM PTX in all female patients with spontaneous PTX, especially those which are recurrent or are associated with menstruation or menarche, in order to provide the patient with a complete spectrum of treatment plans.
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence