Cushing's syndrome

Introduction: Cushing's syndrome

Cushing's syndrome is a disorder of the adrenal glands leading to excess cortisol secretion. This means that there is too much cortisol hormone in the blood. It can be caused by an adrenal gland failure, or it can result from a pituitary tumor or other tumor that secretes ACTH which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to over-produce cortisol.

Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome

• Specific childhood or adolescent Cushing's symptoms:
  • Extreme weight gain
  • Growth retardation
  • Missed periods - in teenage girls
  • Excess hair growth

See full list of 81 symptoms of Cushing's syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Cushing's syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Cushing's syndrome

• Physical examination
• Cortisol urine test
• 24-Hour Urinary Free Cortisol Level
• Dexamethasone Suppression Test
• CRH Stimulation Test

See full list of 15 diagnostic tests for Cushing's syndrome

Wrongly Diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome?

• Misdiagnosis of Cushing's syndrome
• Underlying causes of Cushing's syndrome (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Cushing's syndrome

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Various reasons for obesity: Various studies have shown that approximately 10% of prepubertal and 15% of adolescent age groups are obese. Parents often...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Cushing's syndrome

Causes of Cushing's syndrome

• Pituitary tumors
• Pituitary adenomas (type of Adenoma) - usually benign ACTH-producing tumors of the pituitary gland; most common in women
• ACTH-producing pituitary tumor
• Lung tumors - more common in men
• Small cell lung cancer

See full list of 16 causes of Cushing's syndrome

More information about causes of Cushing's syndrome:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Cushing's syndrome (10 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Cushing's syndrome (34 listings)
• Underlying causes of Cushing's syndrome
• Cushing's syndrome as a complication caused by other conditions
• Cushing's syndrome as a symptom

Treatments for Cushing's syndrome

• Tumor treatments - various treatments aim at treating the underlying tumor causing the disease:
  • Surgery
  • Transsphenoidal adenomectomy - remove pituitary tumor
  • Radiation
  • Pituitary gland irradiation

See full list of 15 treatments for Cushing's syndrome

Videos for Cushing's syndrome

Patient Surveys for Cushing's syndrome

• Patient Profile Survey
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Prognosis for Cushing's syndrome

Prognosis for Cushing's syndrome: Many cases can be cured. Results depend on the underlying cause and severity of the problem.

More about prognosis of Cushing's syndrome

Reseach about Cushing's syndrome

Visit our research pages for current research about Cushing's syndrome treatments.

Clinical Trials for Cushing's syndrome

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Cushing's syndrome include:

• Diagnostic Performance of Screening Tests for Cushing's Syndrome - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Long Term Post Operative Follow-Up of Cushing Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Dose Response Relationship for Single Doses of Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) in Normal Volunteers and in Patients With Adrenal Insufficiency - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (oCRH)
• Defining the Genetic Basis for the Development of Primary Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Disease (PPNAD) and the Carney Complex - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Jugular Vein Sampling for Hormone Levels for the Diagnosis of Cushing Syndrome - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Ovine CRH

See full list of 18 Clinical Trials for Cushing's syndrome

Statistics for Cushing's syndrome

• Medical statistics for Cushing's syndrome
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Cushing's syndrome
• Death and Mortality statistics for Cushing's syndrome
• Society statistics for Cushing's syndrome

Types of Cushing's syndrome

• Cushing's disease - called a "disease" rather than a "syndrome" when caused by a pituitary adenoma
• Ectopic ACTH Syndrome - when Cushing's caused by a non-pituitary tumor
• Familial Cushing's Syndrome

Read more about Types of Cushing's syndrome

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Cushing's syndrome, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about Cushing's syndrome

Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Sometimes called "hypercortisolism," it is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year. (Source: excerpt from Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK)

NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Cushing's syndrome, also called hypercortisolism, is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by a variety of symptoms and physical abnormalities. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Cushing's syndrome:

A condition caused by prolonged exposure to excess levels of cortisol (HYDROCORTISONE) or other GLUCOCORTICOIDS from endogenous or exogenous sources. It is characterized by upper body OBESITY; OSTEOPOROSIS; HYPERTENSION; DIABETES MELLITUS; HIRSUTISM; AMENORRHEA; and excess body fluid. Endogenous Cushing syndrome or spontaneous hypercortisolism is divided into two groups, those due to an excess of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN and those that are ACTH-independent. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A glandular disorder caused by excessive cortisol - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Cushing's syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Cushing's syndrome, or a subtype of Cushing's syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Cushing's syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet