Biomaterial Database

Cushing's syndrome due to an ACTH-secreting adrenal medullary tumour. 1980

L Hoffman, and F I Martin, and M R Buchanan, and A Butkus, and J A Whitworth

A 35-year-old man with Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH production is described. The six-week history and severe proximal myopathy were highly suggestive of a malignant tumour, but a solitary phaeochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland was the source of ACTH production. The surgical outcome was successful and three months post-operatively the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was normal. At 12 months follow-up he remains well with complete regression of the features of Cushing's syndrome.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010673	Pheochromocytoma	A usually benign, well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the ADRENAL MEDULLA or sympathetic paraganglia. The cardinal symptom, reflecting the increased secretion of EPINEPHRINE and NOREPINEPHRINE, is HYPERTENSION, which may be persistent or intermittent. During severe attacks, there may be HEADACHE; SWEATING, palpitation, apprehension, TREMOR; PALLOR or FLUSHING of the face, NAUSEA and VOMITING, pain in the CHEST and ABDOMEN, and paresthesias of the extremities. The incidence of malignancy is as low as 5% but the pathologic distinction between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas is not clear. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1298)	Pheochromocytoma, Extra-Adrenal,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytoma,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytoma, Extra Adrenal,Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytomas, Extra-Adrenal
D003480	Cushing Syndrome	A condition caused by prolonged exposure to excess levels of cortisol (HYDROCORTISONE) or other GLUCOCORTICOIDS from endogenous or exogenous sources. It is characterized by upper body OBESITY; OSTEOPOROSIS; HYPERTENSION; DIABETES MELLITUS; HIRSUTISM; AMENORRHEA; and excess body fluid. Endogenous Cushing syndrome or spontaneous hypercortisolism is divided into two groups, those due to an excess of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN and those that are ACTH-independent.	Cushing's Syndrome,Hypercortisolism,Syndrome, Cushing,Syndrome, Cushing's
D006729	Hormones, Ectopic	Hormones released from neoplasms or from other cells that are not the usual sources of hormones.	Ectopic Hormone,Ectopic Hormones,Hormone, Ectopic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000310	Adrenal Gland Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the ADRENAL GLANDS.	Adrenal Cancer,Adrenal Gland Cancer,Adrenal Neoplasm,Cancer of the Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal Gland,Adrenal Cancers,Adrenal Gland Cancers,Adrenal Gland Neoplasm,Adrenal Neoplasms,Cancer, Adrenal,Cancer, Adrenal Gland,Cancers, Adrenal,Cancers, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasm, Adrenal,Neoplasm, Adrenal Gland,Neoplasms, Adrenal
D000313	Adrenal Medulla	The inner portion of the adrenal gland. Derived from ECTODERM, adrenal medulla consists mainly of CHROMAFFIN CELLS that produces and stores a number of NEUROTRANSMITTERS, mainly adrenaline (EPINEPHRINE) and NOREPINEPHRINE. The activity of the adrenal medulla is regulated by the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Adrenal Medullas,Medulla, Adrenal,Medullas, Adrenal
D000324	Adrenocorticotropic Hormone	An anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the ADRENAL CORTEX and its production of CORTICOSTEROIDS. ACTH is a 39-amino acid polypeptide of which the N-terminal 24-amino acid segment is identical in all species and contains the adrenocorticotrophic activity. Upon further tissue-specific processing, ACTH can yield ALPHA-MSH and corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP).	ACTH,Adrenocorticotropin,Corticotropin,1-39 ACTH,ACTH (1-39),Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone,Corticotrophin,Corticotrophin (1-39),Corticotropin (1-39),Hormone, Adrenocorticotrophic,Hormone, Adrenocorticotropic
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults