Cushing's syndrome resident survival guide

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

This section provides a short and straight to the point overview of the disease or symptom. The first sentence of the overview must contain the name of the disease.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Diagnosis

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome according to the Endocrine Society clinical guidelines.

 
 
 
Symptoms suggestive of Cushing’s syndrome:
  • Osteoporosis unusual for the age
  • Refractory hypertension
  • Facial edema resulting in Moon-like face
  • Central obesity
  • Proximal muscle weakness
  • Abdominal striae
  • Easy bruising
  • Menstrual abnormalities: oligomenorrhea
  • Mood disorders, depression
  • Hirtuism
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Take a detailed history of the patient including medication history. Rule out the use of any exogenous topical, oral, parenteral, or inhaled glucocorticoid and synthetic progesterone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perform any two of the following three laboratory investigations:
  • Measure late-night levels of salivary cortisol (twice)
  • Measure 24 hours urinary free cortisol (UFC) excretion (twice)
  • Perform low-dose (1mg) overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Two of the following abnormal results:
  • Elevated levels of late-night salivary cortisol
  • 24 hours UFC threefold greater than the upper reference range.
  • Early morning (8 am) sample having serum cortisol 1.8 mcg/dL or higher after overnight DST
 
 
Any one abnormal result
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High suspicion for Cushing's syndrome
 
 
Low suspicion for Cushing's syndrome
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Measure late night plasma ACTH levels
 
 
Refer to endocrinologist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low value plasma ACTH <5 pg/mL
 
Indeterminate values of plasma ACTH between 5 to 20 pg/mL
 
High value plasma ACTH >20 pg/mL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CRH or desmopressin stimulation test
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
No ACTH response
 
+ ACTH response
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACTH independent Cushing syndrome
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACTH dependent Cushing syndrome
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CT scan/ MRI of adrenal glands to look for adrenal tumors or hyperplasia.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Perform both tests:
  • CRH or desmopressin stimulation test
  • High dose (8mg) overnight DST
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Treatment

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment of [[disease name]] according the the [...] guidelines.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Do's

  • The content in this section is in bullet points.

Don'ts

  • The content in this section is in bullet points.

References


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