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Pituitary Cushing's (Cushing's disease) Causes and Risks:
Cushing's disease is a form of Cushing's syndrome . It is caused by a tumor or hyperplasia of the pituitary gland. Cushing's syndrome is an adrenocortical hormone
(cortisol) excess from any cause. The pituitary gland is located in the base of the skull and regulates the activities of many glands and body processes. Adrenocorticotropic hormone secreted by the pituitary gland stimulates the adrenal gland to release the hormone cortisol or hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid that controls the body's use of carbohydrates , fats , and proteins , and also plays a role in suppressing the body's response to inflammation.
Risk factors are a pituitary tumor . The incidence is 6 out of 100,000 people.
Prevention:
There is no known way to prevent this disorder.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Tests are done to confirm hypercortisolism , then to determine the cause. In general, the fasting glucose is elevated (glucose intolerance), and serum potassium may be low.
These tests confirm hypercortisolism: These tests determine cause:
Treatment:
Treatment is by surgical removal of the pituitary tumor . After resection, the pituitary function usually returns to normal. Hydrocortisone replacement therapy is indicated during the recovery process. Irradiation of the pituitary gland may also be indicated. If the tumor fails to respond to surgery or radiation, medications to inhibit cortisol synthesis are given.
Prognosis:
Untreated, Cushing's disease can cause severe illness, even death. Resection of the tumor may lead to full recovery, but regrowth of the tumor may occur.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of pituitary Cushing's.
If you have had a pituitary tumor removed, call if signs of complications occur, including signs of recurrence of the tumor .
The endocrine system is the chemical control center of the body. The pituitary gland is often considered the master control; sending out hormones that regulate the function of the thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testis. Over- or under-production of hormones from any of these glands is associated with many different types of disease.
Striae on a male chest: Striae or stretch marks result from stretching of the skin, or from other hormone imbalances such as Cushing's syndrome. This picture shows striae on the upper chest above the angle of the armpit. Although the picture shows a man, striae are also common in women. In fact, most pregnant women experience abdominal striae at some point during their pregnancy. When the striae first appear they have a red-purple (violaceous) color, but over time they take-on a thinned, dull white appearance.
Striae in the popliteal fossa: Striae or stretch marks result from stretching of the skin, or other influences such as Cushing's syndrome. Most pregnant women experience striae at some point during their pregnancy. This picture shows striae in the popliteal fossa (the area on the back side of the leg at the knee joint). When the striae first appear they have a violaceous (red-purple) color, but over time they take-on a dull white appearance.
The Buffalo hump is an accumulation of fat on the back of the neck and upper back. This condition can occur with oversecretion of cortisone by the adrenal gland, a condition called Cushing syndrome.
Excess cortisone, whether produced by the adrenal gland or introduced from an external source (medications or steroids, like Prednisone), can produce Cushing's disease with a "moon face" (round puffy appearance), acne, and central obesity (sparing the arms and legs).
Stretch marks (striae) result from rapid stretching of the skin which may occur with obesity, pubertal growth spurts, pregnancy , or from other influences such as Cushing syndrome.
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