Cushing Syndrome Secondary to Neuroendocrine Lung Carcinoma: To X-Ray or Not to X-Ray?
April 2019
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
New to Hydrocortisone? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This case study reports a rare instance of ectopic ACTH secretion from a primary lung neuroendocrine tumor in a young woman, highlighting successful diagnosis and treatment following symptoms of Cushing syndrome, with normalization of ACTH, glucose, and cortisol levels post-surgery. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This case study described a 30-year-old female with Cushing syndrome (CS) due to ectopic ACTH secretion (EAS) from a neuroendocrine lung tumor. The patient presented with symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, weight gain, hair loss, and amenorrhea. Initial tests showed elevated cortisol and ACTH levels, and a chest X-ray revealed lung masses, avoiding the need for invasive inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS). A lung biopsy confirmed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Post-surgery, the patient's hormone levels normalized, and she remained asymptomatic at a 6-month follow-up. The study highlighted the importance of considering EAS in CS cases without visible pituitary adenomas and the utility of chest X-rays in identifying ectopic sources.
