Cushing's syndrome and Cushing's disease

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Cushing's syndrome and Cushing's disease

Cushing's syndrome is a disorder caused by excessive amounts of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys.

Cushing's syndrome can be caused by:

Long-term use of medication resembling cortisol (corticosteroids).
A tumor on the pituitary gland in the brain. (The noncancerous tumor causes the pituitary gland to produce too much of the hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, which in turn causes the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. This condition is called Cushing's disease.)
A tumor of the adrenal gland.
Some types of cancer that produce ACTH.

Cushing's syndrome can cause a round, reddish face; pads of fat on the chest and upper back; diabetes; high blood pressure; tendency to bruise easily; fatigue; high blood sugar levels; and emotional changes.

Depending on the cause, Cushing's syndrome is treated with medications, surgery, radiation, or a combination of these.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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