Curriculum · Metabolic and Endocrine and Diabetes Mellitus
Cushing syndrome
What it is
Cushing syndrome is confirmed hypercortisolism. Once confirmed, its causes split into ACTH-independent disease, which is exogenous glucocorticoids or an adrenal tumor, and ACTH-dependent disease, which is Cushing disease from a pituitary adenoma or ectopic ACTH secretion. In the distribution given, a pituitary adenoma accounts for 80% and an ectopic source for 20% of the ACTH-dependent group, while an adrenal adenoma accounts for 60% and an adrenal carcinoma for 40% of the adrenal group.
How it presents
The syndrome is looked for in a patient presenting with obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hirsutism, who also has thin skin and osteopenia.