José Lopes, PhD, managing science editor —

A patient’s age, urinary-free cortisol (UFC) level, fasting glucose — a measure of insulin resistance — body mass index (BMI), and the number of comorbidities at diagnosis for Cushing’s syndrome predicted the number of long-term comorbidities several years after remission, according to a study. Specifically, older age, lower baseline UFC,…

Transsphenoidal surgery — a minimally invasive surgery for removing pituitary tumors in Cushing’s disease patients — is also effective in children and adolescents with the condition, leading to remission with a low rate of complications, a study reports. The research, “Neurosurgical treatment of Cushing disease in pediatric patients:…

A man with Cushing’s disease — caused by an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma — who later developed metastases in the central nervous system without Cushing’s recurrence, was successfully treated over eight years with radiation and chemotherapy, according to a case report. The report, “Long-term survival…

Patients with Cushing’s syndrome showed less abdominal fat and increased muscle mass, as well as reduced use of medications one year after having their adrenal glands removed, according to a new study. The research, “Changes of computed tomography-based body composition after adrenalectomy in patients with endogenous hypercortisolism,” was…

Higher levels of sex corticosteroid hormones — such as testosterone — and an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase may predict malignancies of adrenal masses in children, according to a study. Findings also revealed that malignant tumors — known as adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) — were larger and associated with a worse prognosis than…

Pre-surgery treatment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing’s syndrome with Metopirone (metyrapone) leads to effective and safe improvement of hormonal levels and clinical parameters, according to a new pilot study. The research, “Preoperative treatment with metyrapone in patients with Cushing’s syndrome due to adrenal adenoma: a pilot prospective…

A type of immune cell called a macrophage in the gonadal fat tissue may be key in glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, according to a mouse study. The study, “Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance is related to macrophage visceral adipose tissue infiltration,” appeared in the…

Medical treatment appears to be an effective and safe way to normalize cortisol levels in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, and may be a treatment option, a review study reports. The research, “Effectiveness of medical treatment for Cushing’s syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” appeared in the…

A noninvasive and inexpensive technique could help improve the clinical assessment of bone damage in Cushing’s syndrome patients, a French study reports. The approach, called trabecular bone score, was better at detecting bone damage in these patients than the standard bone mineral density assessments. The study, “Assessment…

Etomidate — a steroid synthesis blocker — is an effective treatment for patients with severe Cushing’s syndrome who do not respond to ketoconazole, according to a new case report from Mexico. The report, “Etomidate in the control of severe Cushing’s syndrome by neuroendocrine carcinoma,” appeared…