What Is Cushing Disease?
Cushing disease is caused by a pituitary tumor that makes too much ACTH, which in turn drives the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. ("Cushing disease" refers specifically to the pituitary cause; "Cushing syndrome" is the broader term for high cortisol from any cause.)
Symptoms
Weight gain in the trunk and face, a rounded face, easy bruising, purple stretch marks, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle weakness, and mood changes.
How It Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis can be involved and may include late-night salivary cortisol, 24-hour urinary free cortisol, and dexamethasone-suppression testing, plus ACTH levels and a pituitary MRI. Because the tumors are often very small, specialized testing is sometimes needed to confirm the pituitary as the source.
Surgical Treatment
Removing the tumor with transsphenoidal surgery is typically the first-line treatment. Because these tumors are frequently tiny and hard to localize, the experience of the pituitary surgeon matters a great deal.Become our Patient. Send us your MRI and recent bloodwork and our team will review your case. Call 813-333-1186 or fax records to 844-691-5928.