Adrenal and pituitary incidentalomas in a case of Cushing's syndrome.

Abstract

Cushing's syndrome is a pathological condition where surgery may be lifesaving. The proper diagnosis depends upon the hormonal pattern of the patient, various dynamic tests and imagistic investigations. We report a case of a patient with Cushing's syndrome, with bilateral adrenal tumors and a pituitary microadenoma. She presented increased levels of basal cortisol, unsuppressed during a low and a high dose Dexamethasone test. She underwent right laparoscopic adrenalectomy and developed acute adrenal insufficiency. Two years after the intervention, she still requires adrenal substitution therapy. Acute adrenal crisis is a serious complication of adrenal surgery, with high mortality if unrecognized.

• Authors: C Poiană, C Chiriţă, M Carşote, D Hortopan, D Ioachim, C M Corneci, B Stănescu
• Journal: Chirurgia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990) (Chirurgia (Bucur)) 2013 Nov-Dec Vol. 108 Issue 6 Pg. 886-91 ISSN: 1221-9118 [Print] Romania
• PMID: 24331331 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Celsius.

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Metformin

Topics

• Adenoma (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Adrenal Gland Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Adrenal Insufficiency (drug therapy, etiology)
• Adrenalectomy (adverse effects)
• Adult
• Body Mass Index
• Cushing Syndrome (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (complications)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hypertension (complications)
• Hypoglycemic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Incidental Findings
• Laparoscopy
• Metformin (therapeutic use)
• Obesity (complications)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis)
• Risk Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Treatment Refusal