Cushing’s syndrome

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Endocrine glands

Hypercortisolism

• Moon face (round, red, and full)
• Buffalo hump (a collection of fat between the shoulders)
• Central obesity with protruding abdomen and thin extremities
• Weight gain (unintentional)
• Weakness
• Backache
• Headache
• Acne or superficial skin infections
• Thin skin with easy bruising
• Thirst
• Increased urination
• Purple striations on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
• Mental changes
• Impotence or cessation of menses
• Facial hair growth

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Skin spots, red
• Skin blushing/flushing
• Muscle atrophy
• Fatigue
• Bone pain or tenderness
• High blood pressure

Tests to confirm high cortisol level:

• Cortisol, urine
• Dexamethasone suppression test
• Serial serum cortisol levels

Tests to determine the cause:

• ACTH
• Cranial MRI or cranial CT scan may show pituitary tumor
• Abdominal CT may show adrenal mass

General findings:

• Glucose test is elevated
• Potassium test may be low
• White blood cell count may be elevated

Review Date: 01/18/2006
Reviewed By: Nikheel S. Kolatkar, M.D., Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.