Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that recurs during menstruation, within 72 hours before or after the onset of a cycle. It usually involves the right side of the chest and right lung, and is associated with thoracic endometriosis. A third to a half of patients have pelvic endometriosis as well. Despite this association, CP is still considered to be misunderstood as is endometriosis considered to be underdiagnosed. The lack of a clear cause means that diagnosis and treatment is difficult. The disease is believed to be largely undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leaving the true frequency unknown in the general population. Catamenial pneumothorax is defined as at least two episodes of recurrent pneumothorax corresponding with menstruation. It was first described in 1958 when a woman presented with 12 episodes of right-sided pneumothorax over 1 year, recurring monthly with menstruation. Thoracotomy revealed thoracic endometriosis.Many patients present with chest pain close to their menstrual periods. Surgical exploration can be used in an attempt to visualize the problem; mechanical pleurodesis or hormonal suppressive therapy can also be used. Sometimes, a second surgical look can show fenestrations in the diaphragm. Due to the fact that endometriosis has been attributed to retrograde menstruation, upwards of 90% of women may have an immune deficiency. This prevents clearance of endometrial cells from the peritoneum. Endometriosis is defined as tissue similar to the endometrial tissue that has implanted outside of the uterus.
In some cases the toes are joined part way while in some the webbing can extend right up to the nails. In some cases the entire toes, including the nails and bones, can be fused. Treatment
Webbed toes can be separated through surgery. Surgical separation of webbed toes is an example of body modification. As with any form of surgery, there are risks of complications. In contrast, when left untreated it is very uncommon for webbed toes to cause complications beyond cosmetic considerations. For this reason, many medical professionals do not recommend surgical separation for typical cases. The end results depend on the extent of the webbing and underlying bone structure. There is usually some degree of scarring, and skin grafts may be required. In rare instances, nerve damage may lead to loss of feeling in the toes and a tingling sensation. There are also reports of partial web grow-back. The skin grafts needed to fill in the space between the toes can lead to additional scars in the places where the skin is removed. Notable cases
Dan Aykroyd – Canada, actor
Tricia Helfer – Canada, actress
Jacqui Hurley – Ireland, sports broadcaster
Ashton Kutcher – United States, actor
Thomas Robert Malthus - England, political economist and demographer
Joseph Stalin – Soviet Union, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Danielle Panabaker – United States, actress

See also
Webbed foot
Bird feet and legs - webbing and lobation

References


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