Cushing's Syndrome
Cushing's syndrome is a debilitating endocrine disorder characterized by excessive cortisol levels in the blood which may be the result of a tumor of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands (located above the kidneys) or from tumors or cancer arising elsewhere in the body (ectopic ACTH producing tumors). Cushings disease refers specifically to excessive ACTH secretion by a pituitary tumor (also called pituitary adenoma). The cause of Cushings Syndrome is a pituitary adenoma in over 70% of adults and in approximately 60-70% of children and adolescents. Most pituitary ACTH-secreting adenomas are small in size (microadenomas). Overall, Cushings Disease is relatively rare, affecting 10 to 15 of every million people each year, and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50 years. Women account for over 70% of cases.
Symptoms and signs of Cushings syndrome and disease may include:
- Change in body habitus: weight gain in face (moon face), above the collar bone (supraclavicular) and on back of neck (buffalo hump)
- Skin changes with easy bruising, purplish stretch marks (stria) and red cheeks (plethora)
- Excess hair growth (hirsutism) on face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs
- Generalized weakness and fatigue
- Loss of muscle
- Menstrual disorders in women (amenorrhea)
- Decreased fertility and/or sex drive (libido)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Depression with wide mood swings
