What tests diagnose thoracic or diaphragmatic endometriosis?

Diagnosis usually starts with a detailed symptom history, including whether chest, shoulder, or upper abdominal pain clusters around your period, and a careful review of pelvic symptoms since thoracic/diaphragmatic endometriosis often occurs alongside pelvic disease. We also look for patterns like pain with breathing, cough, or recurrent “catamenial” symptoms that track with the menstrual cycle, because timing is often one of the most informative “tests.”

Imaging such as MRI or CT may be used to evaluate the diaphragm and chest for suggestive findings, but normal scans don’t rule it out—superficial or small implants can be missed. When symptoms and history strongly suggest thoracic or diaphragmatic involvement, the most definitive way to confirm endometriosis is surgical visualization with biopsy (pathology), ideally with a plan that accounts for both pelvic and upper-abdominal/diaphragm evaluation. If you’re dealing with persistent cyclical chest or diaphragm-area pain, our team can help you clarify the likely source and discuss what a thoughtful diagnostic and surgical plan would look like.