Cushing's Syndrome — Overview, Symptoms, Treatments, and Other Resources.
Information on Cushing's Syndrome from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders
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, Cushing’s syndrome is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. People who are obese and have type 2 diabetes, along with poorly controlled blood glucose—also called blood sugar—and high blood pressure, have an increased risk of developing the disorder. Read more at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, the National Institutes of Health.
Information on Cushing's Syndrome from the Mayo Clinic
MayoClinic.com on Cushing's syndrome.
Information on Cushing's Syndrome from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Cushing's syndrome refers to the physical and emotional difficulties caused by an elevated cortisol level. Features of excess cortisol include weight gain, especially centrally, fatigue, easy bruisability, excess hair growth (termed hirsutism), susceptibility to infection, depression, menstrual irregularities in women, decreased libido and erectile dysfunction in men, high blood pressure, diabetes, and weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Many of these are non-specific, meaning that people who have them usually do not have Cushing's syndrome. Read more at the Neuroendocrine Clinical Center and Pituitary Tumor Center - Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Glossary of Terms
See a glossary of terms a patient will commonly hear during diagnosis and treatment of Cushing's syndrome. Provided by the Cushing's Support and Research Foundation
Dexamethasone suppression test
This test is performed when the health care provider suspects that your body is producing too much cortisol. The low-dose test can help tell whether your body is producing too much cortisol. The high-dose test can help determine whether the problem is in the pituitary gland (Cushing's disease). Read more at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor
Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor is an endocrine system disorder that occurs when there is a tumor of the adrenal gland releasing excess amounts of the hormone cortisol. Read more at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Ectopic Cushing syndrome
Ectopic Cushing syndrome is a condition in which a tumor outside the pituitary or adrenal glands produces a hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Read more at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Podcast: Interviews with Cushing's sufferers
Interviews with Cushing's sufferers from CushingsOnline.com.
Podcast: Interviews with Cushing's sufferers
Help and support podcasts from CushingsHelp web project.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with pituitary adenomas.
GUIDELINE OBJECTIVE(S): To provide guidelines about the use of stereotactic radiosurgery in symptomatic patients with imaging identified pituitary adenomas with treatment recommendations to be used by medical and public health professionals. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.
GUIDELINE OBJECTIVE(S): To provide clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Abstract: Surgery for Cushing's syndrome: an historical review and recent ten-year experience.
BACKGROUND: Cushing's syndrome (CS), due to multiple etiologies, is a disorder associated with the ravages of cortisol excess. The purpose of this review article is to provide a historical synopsis of surgery for CS, review a recent 10-year period of operative management at a tertiary care facility, and to outline a practical approach to diagnosis and management. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Persistent adrenocorticotropin response to desmopressin in the early postoperative period predicts recurrence of Cushing's disease.
CONTEXT: Patients with Cushing's disease (CD) often show an ACTH and cortisol response to desmopressin (DDAVP). OBJECTIVE: We tested whether persistence of a positive response to DDAVP after successful surgery identifies patients at risk of CD recurrence. See Abstract at PubMed.
Abstract: Long-term results of stereotactic radiosurgery in secretory pituitary adenomas.
CONTEXT: To date, no study reported long-term follow-up results of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SR). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine long-term efficacy and adverse effects of SR in secreting pituitary adenomas. See Abstract at PubMed
Abstract: Merits and pitfalls of mifepristone in Cushing's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE: Mifepristone is the only available glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. Only few adult patients with hypercortisolism were treated to date by this drug. Our objective was to determine effectiveness and tolerability of mifepristone in Cushing's syndrome. See Abstract at PubMed
Abstract: Surgical management of Cushing Syndrome secondary to micronodular adrenal hyperplasia
We reviewed our experience with micronodular adrenal hyperplasia (MAH), its pigmented variant primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD), and the association with Carney’s Complex (CNC) in order to better characterize the disorders....This study is a retrospective analysis of clinical data and operative reports of 34 patients identified with MAH and/or PPNAD who underwent resection between 1969 and 2006 at the Clinical Research Center, an inpatient research hospital, at the National Institutes of Health. Symptoms and anthropometric and biochemical data were used to evaluate effect of resection. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome: a consensus statement.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the published literature and reach a consensus on the treatment of patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, because there is no recent consensus on the management of this rare disorder. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Diagnostic Tests for Children Who Are Referred for the Investigation of Cushing Syndrome
Endogenous Cushing syndrome in children is a rare disorder that is most frequently caused by pituitary or adrenocortical tumors. Diagnostic criteria have generally been derived from studies of adult patients despite significant differences in both the physiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the epidemiology of Cushing syndrome in childhood. The purpose of this study was to identify the tests that most reliably and efficiently diagnose pituitary or adrenal tumors in a large cohort of pediatric patients with Cushing syndrome. Full text available free through PubMed.
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Location of Pituitary Gland (in red)
Source: Wikimedia
Kidney and Adrenal Glands
Source: NCI
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