Computed tomography findings of pathologically confirmed pulmonary parenchymal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in the localization of parenchymal pulmonary endometriosis and to correlate the CT findings with fiberoptic bronchoscopic and pathologic findings.


METHODS
A prospective study of 5 patients presenting with catamenial hemoptysis was conducted. The CT scans and fiberoptic bronchoscopy were performed twice during and 2 weeks after menstruation. After the localization of the presumed bleeding focus, surgical resection was performed.


RESULTS
The CT scans obtained during menstruation revealed a well-demarcated area of consolidation (n = 4) and ground-glass opacity (n = 5), whereas CT scans obtained after menstruation demonstrated ground-glass opacity (n = 4) or complete resolution of the previously noted lesion (n = 1). Fiberoptic bronchoscopy exhibited trails of blood clot at the orifice of the involved bronchi unilaterally (n = 4) or a thin bloody secretion in the bronchi bilaterally. Histopathologic examination of the resected specimens showed typical findings of pulmonary endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomography scans during and after menstruation were useful for the precise preoperative localization of parenchymal pulmonary endometriosis.
Chung
Soo Yoon
SY
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Kim
Sang Jin
SJ
Kim
Tae Hoon
TH
Ryu
Won Gee
WG
Park
Sang Jun
SJ
Lee
Doo Yun
DY
Paik
Hyo Chae
HC
Kim
Hyung Joong
HJ
Cho
Sang Ho
SH
Kim
Jai Keun
JK
Park
Kyung Joo
KJ
Ryu
Young Hoon
YH
D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000379:methods; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D035583:Rare Diseases; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*