Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Marisa holds a Master of Science in cellular and molecular pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. Her areas of expertise include cancer biology, immunology, and genetics, and she has worked as a science writing and communications intern for the Genetics Society of America.

Articles by Marisa Wexler

Cushing’s syndrome resolves after kidney tumor removed: Case study

A woman who developed Cushing’s syndrome as a complication of kidney cancer saw her symptoms fully resolve after the tumor was surgically removed. This is the first published account that definitively describes Cushing’s syndrome developing as a paraneoplastic (cancer-related) complication of this type of cancer and resolving after its removal,…

Imaging abnormality can make diagnosing Cushing’s disease harder

An imaging abnormality that makes it harder for clinicians to visualize the brain’s pituitary gland can complicate efforts to diagnose and manage Cushing’s disease, a recent report highlights. The abnormality affects the bony compartment that houses the pituitary gland, making “visual diagnosis of pituitary adenoma [benign tumors] even more…

Higher risk of complications evident after joint replacement surgery

People with Cushing’s syndrome are at a greater risk of developing complications, particularly infections, after undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, a recent study reported. “This study revealed that patients who have [Cushing’s syndrome] are at increased risk of developing early postoperative complications following [total joint replacement],” the researchers wrote.

Ratio of fat and muscle in hips may aid Cushing’s detection

A CT scan-based measurement of the amount of fat and muscle tissue around the hips may help identify Cushing’s syndrome in older female patients with adrenal tumors. That’s according to the study, “Iliopsoas muscle to visceral fat ratio on CT predicts Cushing’s syndrome in elderly females with adrenal tumors,”…

Study compares tools for Cushing’s diagnosis, tumor localization

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for pinpointing the location of a pituitary tumor that causes Cushing’s disease prior to surgery, a recent study reported. However, study findings indicate that bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS), an invasive diagnostic procedure, is more accurate for the initial…