How is Cushing's disease diagnosed?
- Sample tests to measure the amount of cortisol in the urine or saliva
- Giving a small tablet called dexamethasone at night and measuring blood cortisol the next morning
- Procedure called inferior petrosal sinus sampling (ISSS)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary
More About Cushing's Disease
With Cushing's Disease, an excess of Cortisol is produced indirectly by a pituitary tumor. If your body produces too much cortisol over a long period of time, it can trigger emotional problems making you constantly tired and weak, can lead to weight gain, muscle and joint pain, insomnia and premature aging. Cortisol is directly related to almost every organ in the body, therefore the tumor creating the hormone excess, in most cases, must be removed.
Symptoms:
- high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- muscle weakness
- formation of blueish-red stretch marks (arms, buttocks, breast, thighs, abdomen)
- fat accumulation around neck, collar bone, abdomen and between shoulder blades
- high blood sugar
- back, neck and shoulder pain
- irregular menstrual cycle
- lack of sexual desire or impotency
- balding
- extreme fatigue
- osteoporosis
- kidney stones
- emotional instability
- abnormal facial hair growth
- decreased immunity
- round face
It was 1912 when Dr. Harvey Cushing first described a woman with symptoms of this disease. It was not until 1932 that he was able to link too much cortisol to an abnormal pituitary.
Treatment of Cushing's Disease
The best treatment is surgical removal of the pituitary tumor. Other treatments include pituitary radiation, medical therapy, or removing the adrenal glands.