A 27-year-old woman complains of cyclical chest pain and shortness of breath occurring primarily around the time of her menstrual cycle. Her lung function tests and chest X-ray are normal. What could be the problem?
These symptoms could suggest thoracic endometriosis syndrome, a rare form of endometriosis where the endometrial-like tissue is present in the chest cavity. The diagnosis can be challenging and may require further investigations like CT scans, MRI, or even video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Management typically includes hormonal treatments and possibly surgery.