Question: My mother-in-law has Cushing Syndrome brought on by a tumor in the lung. Cytology shows that it is a Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. What are the pros and cons of chemotherapy? Answer: Small cell lung cancer can occasionally be a source of ectopic ACTH secretion causing Cushing’s syndrome. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Doctor’s Answers
Why So Long to Get a Diagnosis?
Question: Like others, it took me a long time to obtain a correct diagnosis of Cushing’s. Why does it take so long before a doctor thinks of Cushing’s and is there anything that we can do so we are taken more seriously? Answer: There are several factors that contribute to the difficulty of a Cushing’s… Continue Reading
What is Cyclic Cushing’s?
Question: What is cyclic Cushing’s? Answer: Cyclic Cushing’s syndrome relates to the fact that the tumors responsible for Cushing’s syndrome, whether they are of pituitary, adrenal, or ectopic origin, produce their hormones in an irregular fashion. The secretion of ACTH or of cortisol is not always constant, but can rapidly fluctuate between high levels and… Continue Reading
The Petrosal Sinus Sampling Test
Question: What is a petrosal sinus sampling test, how is it done, and when is it used? Answer: The majority of patients with Cushing’s syndrome have an ACTH-secreting tumor (pituitary or nonpituitary) causing both adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol. Although the majority of patients have pituitary tumors, approximately 10-15% of patients have… Continue Reading
Tests for Cyclic Cushing’s
Question: My endocrinologist strongly suspects that I have Cushing’s but since some of my tests come back normal, he thinks that I cycle. Is there any consensus on how best to test for cyclic Cushing’s? Answer: The diagnosis of mild Cushing’s syndrome is difficult and it is especially challenging when the hypercortisolism is intermittent or… Continue Reading
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