Computed tomography findings of pathologically confirmed pulmonary parenchymal endometriosis

Abstract

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. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography scans during and after menstruation were useful for the precise preoperative localization of parenchymal pulmonary endometriosis.