Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor is a form of Cushing syndrome. It occurs when a tumor of the adrenal gland releases excess amounts of the hormone cortisol.
Adrenal tumor - Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body has a higher than normal level of the hormone cortisol. This hormone is made in the adrenal glands. Too much cortisol can be due to various problems. One such problem is a tumor on one of the adrenal glands. Adrenal tumors release cortisol.
Adrenal tumors are rare. They can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Noncancerous tumors that can cause Cushing syndrome include:
Cancerous tumors that may cause Cushing syndrome include an adrenal carcinoma. This is a rare tumor, but it usually makes excess cortisol.
Most people with Cushing syndrome have:
Skin changes that are often seen:
Muscle and bone changes include:
Body-wide (systemic) changes include:
Women often have:
Men may have:
Other symptoms that may occur include:
Surgery is done to remove the adrenal tumor. Often, the entire adrenal gland is removed.
Glucocorticoid replacement treatment is usually needed until the other adrenal gland recovers from surgery. You may need this treatment for 3 to 12 months.
If surgery is not possible, such as in cases of adrenal cancer that has spread (metastasis), medicines can be used to stop the release of cortisol.
Martin Fassnacht practices in Wurzburg, Germany. Fassnacht is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome due to Adrenal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 25 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Adrenal Cancer, Adrenal Gland Adenoma, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy.
Jerome Bertherat practices in Paris, France. Bertherat is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome due to Adrenal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 35 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cushing Syndrome, Adrenal Cancer, Carney Complex, Heart Tumor, and Endoscopy.
Felix Beuschlein practices in München, Germany. Beuschlein is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome due to Adrenal Tumor. He is also highly rated in 27 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Adrenal Cancer, Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Hyperaldosteronism, Adrenal Gland Adenoma, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
People with an adrenal tumor who have surgery have an excellent outlook. For adrenal cancer, surgery is sometimes not possible. When surgery is performed, it does not always cure the cancer.
Cancerous adrenal tumors can spread to the liver or lungs.
Call your provider if you develop any symptoms of Cushing syndrome.
Appropriate treatment of adrenal tumors may reduce the risk of complications in some people with adrenal tumor-related Cushing syndrome.
Summary: The aim of this study is to develop a one-step diagnostic method for adrenal diseases, Patients with adrenal diseases including non-functioning adrenal adenoma, adrenal Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, and pheochromocytoma will be recruited. Using mass spectrometry analysis based on a multisteroid panel, serum, urine, saliva, and hair samples of the patients will be analyzed. The diagnos...
Published Date: May 13, 2021
Published By: Brent Wisse, MD, Board Certified in Metabolism/Endocrinology, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Asban A, Patel AJ, Reddy S, Wang T, Balentine CJ, Chen H. Cancer of the endocrine system. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 68.
Newell-Price JDC, Auchus RJ. The adrenal cortex. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 15.
Nieman LK, Biller BM, Findling JW, et al. Treatment of Cushing's syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015;100(8):2807-2831. PMID: 26222757 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26222757/.