Cushing’s disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is an organ of the endocrine system.
Cushing's disease is a form of Cushing syndrome.
Cushing's disease is caused by a tumor or excess growth (hyperplasia) of the pituitary gland. This gland is located at the base of the brain.
People with Cushing's disease have too much ACTH. ACTH stimulates the production and release of cortisol, a stress hormone. Too much ACTH means too much cortisol.
Cortisol is normally released during stressful situations. It controls the body's use of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and also helps reduce the immune system's response to swelling (inflammation).
Symptoms usually include:
Skin changes that are often seen:
Muscle and bone changes include:
Women often have:
Men may have:
Other symptoms that may occur include:
Tests are done to confirm there is too much cortisol in the body, then to determine the cause.
These tests confirm too much cortisol:
These tests determine cause:
Treatment involves surgery to remove the pituitary tumor, if possible. After surgery, the pituitary may slowly start to work again and return to normal.
During the recovery process, you may need cortisol replacement treatments. Radiation treatment of the pituitary gland may also be used.
If the tumor does not respond to surgery or radiation, you may get medications to stop your body from making cortisol.
If these treatments are not successful, the adrenal glands may need to be removed to stop the high levels of cortisol from being produced.
Untreated, Cushing's disease can cause severe illness, even death. Removal of the tumor may lead to full recovery, but the tumor can grow back.
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of Cushing's disease.
If you have had a pituitary tumor removed, call if you have signs of complications, including signs that the tumor has returned.
Pituitary Cushing's disease
Stewart PM, Krone NP. The adrenal cortex. In: Kronenberg H, Melmed S, Polonsky K, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 15.
Updated by: Nancy J. Rennert, MD, Chief of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Norwalk Hospital, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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