Ectopic Cushing's Syndrome Secondary to Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumor

Shahriar Hashemzadeh, MD, Atabak Asvadi Kermani, MD, Akbar Ali-Asgharzadeh, MD, Moneireh Halimi, MD, Mina Soleimani, MD, Amirhosein Ladan, MD

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Volume 95, Issue 5, May 2013, Pages 1797-1799 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.09.039

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) overproduction within the pituitary gland or ectopically leads to hypercortisolism.

In this study a case of Cushing's syndrome caused by an ectopic ACTH-secreting carcinoid tumor in lung is discussed, as are the available diagnostic procedures.

The patient was a 28-year-old woman with clinical features starting about 6 months previously. The results of her biochemical tests suggested ectopic Cushing's syndrome.

Full-body computed tomography revealed a single nodule in the inferior lobe of the right lung.

After removal of the nodule, the patient's symptoms subsided clinically, and laboratory tests confirmed remission of the hypercortisolism.

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