Hyperfunctioning unilateral adrenal macronodule in three patients with Cushing's disease: hormonal and imaging characterization

1993 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 284-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Abs ◽  
Frank Nobels ◽  
Johan Verhelst ◽  
Philippe Chanson ◽  
Charles Mahler ◽  
...  

We aimed to investigate the dynamics of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol secretion in pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome with bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia presenting as a single adrenal macronodule, and to determine the imaging characteristics of this syndrome. Three female patients were studied. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol secretion were studied by determining their rhythmicity and pulsatility and their responses to the administration of ovine corticotropin-releasing factor, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, metyrapone, tetracosactrin, insulin and dexamethasone. Techniques used to localize the anatomical lesion were bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus sampling, magnetic resonance examination of the pituitary, computed tomography (CT) scanning and [75Se]cholesterol scintigraphy of the adrenal glands. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol levels were measured using a commercial radioimmunoassay and an immunoradiometric assay. The ACTH and cortisol pulse number and amplitude were calculated using established computer software. In all three patients ACTH and cortisol secretory dynamics fulfilled the requirements for diagnosis of pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome. A close relationship between ACTH and cortisol pulses also favored a pituitary dependency. Study of the amplitude of cortisol pulses classified two patients in the group of hypopulsatile Cushing's disease. Adrenal CT scanning demonstrated the presence of a large single nodule. [75Se]Cholesterol scintigraphy showed bilateral radionuclide uptake, although mostly localized over the adrenal nodule. All patients underwent successful trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. Over a period of 1 year, a slow shrinkage of the adrenal nodule was observed in two patients, while no change in volume was observed in one patient. Demonstration of an adrenal macronodule on CT scanning in patients with Cushing's syndrome is in itself insufficient to allow the diagnosis of hypercorticism due to a unilateral adrenal adenoma. Additional dynamic endocrine testing, inferior petrosal sinus sampling and imaging techniques such as [75Se]cholesterol scintigraphy remain necessary to reach a correct diagnosis.

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien Bonert ◽  
Namrata Bose ◽  
John D. Carmichael

Diagnosing Cushing's syndrome is challenging and is further hampered when investigations are performed in a patient with cyclic Cushing's syndrome. A subset of patients with Cushing's syndrome exhibit periods of abnormal cortisol secretion with interspersed normal secretion. Patients can have periods of clinical improvement during these quiescent phases or remain symptomatic. Initial diagnostic testing can be challenging because of the unpredictable durations of the peak and trough phases, and it is especially challenging when the diagnosis of cyclic Cushing's syndrome has not yet been determined. Here, the authors present the case of a patient with Cushing's disease with a pathology-proven adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–secreting pituitary adenoma and whose initial inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) results were deemed indeterminate; further studies elucidated the diagnosis of cyclic Cushing's syndrome. Repeat IPSS was diagnostic of a central source for ACTH secretion, and the patient was treated successfully with transsphenoidal resection. Literature concerning the diagnosis and management of cyclic Cushing's syndrome is also reviewed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 160 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Arnaldi ◽  
Giacomo Tirabassi ◽  
Roberta Papa ◽  
Giorgio Furlani ◽  
Laura Trementino ◽  
...  

ObjectiveCorticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) test does not reliably distinguish Cushing's disease (CD) from normality or pseudo-Cushing state (PC). We assessed whether this could be achieved with a novel approach while preserving the ability of the test to distinguish CD from ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS).DesignRetrospective/prospective study.Subjects and methodsWe studied 51 subjects with CD, 7 with EAS, 26 with PC, and 31 controls (CT). Human CRH (hCRH) test was performed at 0830 h by measuring plasma ACTH and serum cortisol at −15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min.ResultsThe area under the curve–ACTH exhibited a significant negative correlation with baseline serum cortisol in CT and PC, but not in CD or EAS patients. ACTH response to hCRH was blunted in PC compared with CT, whereas peak serum cortisol was higher in PC than in CT subjects. These findings suggested that ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome can be diagnosed by the presence of two hCRH test parameters and excluded if either or both are absent. Application of i) basal serum cortisol >12 μg/dl and peak plasma ACTH >54 pg/ml, or ii) peak serum cortisol >21 μg/dl and peak plasma ACTH >45 pg/ml, had 91.3% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 81–97.1) and 94.8% (CI 85.6–98.9) sensitivity and 98.2% (CI 90.6–99.9) and 91.2% (CI 80.7–97) specificity respectively, in diagnosing ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. The >14% serum cortisol increase from mean baseline values to the mean of 15 and 30 min values in patients who were positive for the test completely discriminated between CD and EAS.ConclusionsSimultaneous plasma ACTH and serum cortisol analysis enables the hCRH test to distinguish CD from PC and from normality, while preserving its ability to discriminate CD from EAS.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivanand P. Lad ◽  
Chirag G. Patil ◽  
Edward R. Laws ◽  
Laurence Katznelson

✓ Cushing's syndrome can present a complex problem of differential diagnosis. Of cases in which hypercortisolemia results from an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)–dependent process, approximately 80% are due to a pituitary adenoma (Cushing's disease [CD]), 10% are due to adrenal lesions, and the remaining 10% are secondary to ectopic ACTH secretion. For patients with CD, surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma is the treatment of choice. Thus, localization of the source of ACTH secretion is critical in guiding timely treatment decisions. Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is considered to be the gold standard for confirming the origin of ACTH secretion in patients with Cushing's syndrome. The authors present an overview of IPSS—both the technique and its interpretation—as well as a summary of recent studies. A number of other techniques are discussed including sampling from the cavernous sinus, the jugular vein, and multiple sites to aid the diagnosis and lateralization of ACTH-producing pituitary adenomas. Management is best undertaken by a comprehensive multidisciplinary team taking into account the results of all the biochemical and imaging studies available, to provide the best advice in patient treatment decisions.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Gussaova ◽  
Uliana Tsoy ◽  
Alexander Savello ◽  
Natalia Plotnikova ◽  
Vladislav Cherebillo ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 1329-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Utz ◽  
Beverly M.K. Biller

Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome is most often due to a pituitary corticotroph adenoma, with ectopic ACTH-secreting tumors representing approximately 15% of cases. Biochemical and radiological techniques have been established to help distinguish between these two entities, and thus aid in the localization of the neoplastic lesion for surgical resection. The test that offers the highest sensitivity and specificity is bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS). BIPSS is an interventional radiology procedure in which ACTH levels obtained from venous drainage very near the pituitary gland are compared to peripheral blood levels before and after corticotropin hormone (CRH) stimulation. A gradient between these two locations indicates pituitary Cushing's, whereas the absence of a gradient suggests ectopic Cushing's. Accurate BIPSS results require hypercortisolemia to suppress normal corticotroph ACTH production and hypercortisolemia at the time of the BIPSS to assure excessive ACTH secretion. In some cases, intrapituitary gradients from side-to-side can be helpful to localize small corticotroph adenomas within the sella. BIPSS has rare complications and is considered safe when performed at centers with experience in this specialized technique.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-62
Author(s):  
Neeraj Barnwal ◽  
Raylene Dias ◽  
Rahul Mamde

ABSTRACT Cushing's syndrome in an acromegalic patient is a very rare presentation. To differentiate a Cushing's disease from Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreting tumors, inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is required. Acromegaly patients have associated airway abnormalities posing a challenge to administration of anesthesia. Traditionally, most IPSS was done under general anesthesia. But now it is being recognized that general anesthesia for this procedure has its own implications and hence conscious sedation is being used for this purpose. We describe our experience with the novel agent dexmedetomidine for conscious sedation in this procedure. How to cite this article Barnwal N, Dias R, Mamde R. Dexmedetomidine for Conscious Sedation in Bilateral Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling. Res Inno in Anesth 2016;1(2):61-62.


1985 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Udo Schweikert ◽  
Horst Lorenz Fehm ◽  
Rudolf Fahlbusch ◽  
Rainer Martin ◽  
Rainer Kolloch ◽  
...  

Abstract. A 55 year old woman with an unusual form of Cushing's disease was studied. During several periods (periods lasting up to 84 days) evidence of cortisol hypersecretion with cycles occurring every 6 days was found. Suppression of plasma cortisol through orally administered dexamethasone (up to 32 mg per day) could not be achieved either during periods of cyclic cortisol hypersecretion or during apparent remission with normal cortisol secretion. Marked suppression of plasma ACTH was measured in response to an iv infusion of 50 mg cortisol over a period of 55 min whereas a similar test with 2 mg dexamethasone (iv bolus) did not suppress ACTH secretion. Transsphenoidal exploration of the sella revealed a tumour surrounding the anterior pituitary. Examination of the pituitary showed a few tiny tumour structures embedded in normal tissue which could not be removed, when the tumour was resected selectively under preservation of normal appearing tissue. Post-operatively, clinical and chemical remission (normal response to 1 mg dexamethasone) was observed for about 4 months. Thereafter, cortisol hypersecretion occurred again necessitating bilateral adrenalectomy. Our results are compatible with the assumption that normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppressibility with cortisol, but not with dexamethasone, was caused by the loss of feedback receptors for dexamethasone in the presence of cortisol receptors in the cells which secrete ACTH or CRF. The combination of cyclic hypercortisolism with dexamethasone non-suppressible Cushing's syndrome has not been reported before and thus represents a new variant of Cushing's syndrome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-257
Author(s):  
Hamideh Akbari ◽  
Mohammad Ghorbani ◽  
Maryam Kabootari ◽  
Ali Zare Mehrjardi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Mohajeri Tehrani ◽  
...  

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