Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS), a type of minimally invasive surgery to remove pituitary tumors through the nose, was found to be safe and effective for bringing about remission in Cushing’s disease, according to a study in Turkey. In patients in whom tumors were larger and had spread into the…

A report detailed the rare case of a woman whose Cushing’s syndrome quickly developed as a result of a silent pheochromocytoma — a rare adrenal gland tumor — that produced and released both corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The report, “Cushing Syndrome due to a…

Feelings of loneliness and hopelessness affect the majority of people with Cushing’s disease, according to a survey conducted by the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York. Patients often felt they had no choices about their treatment, which contrasted with the perception of healthcare providers at MSK’s…

Psychosis may be more common with Cushing’s disease than previously thought, according to a recent U.S. case report about a 47-year-old woman who had surgery to remove a pituitary tumor, but whose signs of psychosis weren’t evident to her hospital team in the months before the procedure. “This…

Being male, having high cortisol levels at the time of Cushing’s diagnosis, and undergoing multiple surgeries were identified as key factors linked to a high risk of blood clots in people with Cushing’s, according to data from a large European registry. Preventive anti-blood clotting protocols varied across treatment centers,…

The first symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome due to a neuroendocrine tumor in the right lung were severe psychiatric manifestations, including persecutory delusions, depression, and anxiety, for a man described in a recent case report from Tunisia. The case highlights that “[Cushing’s syndrome] should be considered by…

Surgery to remove adrenal tumors without taking the entire adrenal gland — given to Cushing’s syndrome patients to lower cortisol levels — associated with better outcomes than surgeries that remove all of the adrenal gland, a study reports. Benefits included a shorter period of dependency on corticorteroids after surgery and…

An 81-year-old woman being treated for a severe and persistent electrolyte imbalance was found to have a tumor in her lung which eventually led to her diagnosis of ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, according to a case report. Electrolytes are minerals in body fluids that carry an electric charge and are vital…

Radiation therapy, which is often used when surgery fails to completely remove a pituitary tumor, led to the development of a secondary and aggressive tumor in a woman with Cushing’s disease. “Our case highlights a rare but devastating long-term complication of pituitary tumor irradiation after Cushing disease. The…

Patients with persistent Cushing’s disease may benefit from combining Signifor (pasireotide) with cabergoline, according to the findings of a Phase 2 clinical trial. The results suggest the combo therapy “could be an effective long-term strategy for enhancing the control of CD [Cushing’s disease]” in patients who fail to respond or…