Ectopic Cushing syndrome - Treatment

Alternative Names

Cushing syndrome - ectopic

Treatment:

The best treatment for ectopic Cushing syndrome is surgery to remove the tumor. Surgery is usually possible when the tumor is noncancerous (benign).

In some cases, the tumor is cancerous and spreads to other areas of the body before the health care provider can discover the problem with cortisol production. Surgery may not be possible in these cases, but the doctor may prescribe drugs to block cortisol production.

Expectations (prognosis):

Surgery to remove the tumor may lead to full recovery, but there is a chance that the tumor will come back.

Complications:

The tumor may spread or return after surgery. High cortisol levels may continue.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of Cushing syndrome.

Endocrine glands

Reviewed last on: 3/18/2008
Elizabeth H Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Arnaldi G, Angeli A, Atkinson AB, et al. Diagnosis and complications of Cushing's syndrome: A consensus statement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:5595-5602.

Stewart PM. The adrenal cortex. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 14.

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