Cushing's syndrome (overview)E24.9

Hypercortisolism with characteristic clinical symptoms due to exogenous or endogenous excess supply of glucocorticoids and possibly androgens

• Exogenous Cushing's syndrome (frequent)
  • Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome (through long-term regular, systemic administration of ACTH or glucocorticoids).
• Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (rarely 2-3 cases/1 million inhabitants)
  • Central Cushing's Syndrome (Cushing's Disease: 72% of all cases): Increased production of ACTH in the anterior pituitary gland followed by increased corticoid release from the adrenal cortex (see also pituitary diseases, skin changes).
  • Adrenal Cushing's Syndrome (about 20% of all cases, 80% of women are affected): increased secretion of gluco- or mineralocorticoids from the adrenal cortex in the course of neoplasia (adrenal cortex adenomas: 50% of cases or adrenal cortex carcinomas: 50% of cases) with subsequent suppressed release of ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland); so-called "white Cushing's" s.a. " white Addison's". In very rare cases of adrenal adenomatosis (<1% of all cases) multiple small andenomas are also detectable.
  • Ectopic (paraneoplastic) Cushing's syndrome (formation of corticoids in ectopic tissue, e.g. in small cell bronchial carcinoma).
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary Cushing's syndrome (disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary regulation).
  • Pseudo-Cushing's syndrome, so-called Cushingoid (passagere Cushing's symptoms e.g. after severe cranial injuries).
  • Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome: As a result of long-term therapy with ACTH or glucocorticosteroids.

Clinical-dermatological symptoms are weight gain with central obesity with the typical full moon face and buffalo neck, striae cutis distensae (abdomen, thighs, axial folds), fatigue, muscle weakness, plethora, arterial hypertension, general poor performance, impotence, oligo to amenorrhea, depressive moods, sleep disorders, anxiety and other personality disorders as well as steroid acne. In 20% of patients (mainly women) there is hypertrichosis to hirsutism. In children there are growth disturbances due to the excess of corticosteroids.

Furthermore, osteoporosis with back pain, as well as loss of potency and libido.

Occasionally, hyperpigmentation (with ACTH and MSH overproduction) and purpura are present. Adrenal Cushing's syndrome does not show hyperpigmentation ("white Cushing's").

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