Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

In a rare case, a hormone-producing intestinal tumor led to the development of ectopic Cushing’s syndrome in a 50-year-old man, according to a recent report. The patient’s high cortisol levels — a hallmark of hypercortisolism — normalized after he underwent surgery to remove both adrenal glands, which are responsible for…

Cushing’s disease was successfully treated using metyrapone in a pregnant women with no harm to the unborn baby, a case-report found. The report, “Cushing Disease Treated Successfully with Metyrapone During Pregnancy,” was published in the journal AACE Clinical Case Reports. Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excessive levels of…

A recent report described the rare case of 9-year old girl who developed Cushing’s syndrome due to a hormone-producing Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of tumor that arises in bones or in its surrounding soft tissues. This case, according to the report’s authors, highlights the diagnostic challenges in identifying and…

An aggressive tumor in the brain’s pituitary gland, which caused severe Cushing’s disease, was successfully treated with rounds of radiation and chemotherapy with temozolomide, as described in a recent case report. The study, “ACTH secreting pituitary carcinoma: Rare, durable response to concurrent chemotherapy and re-irradiation with a review of…

Treatment with the blood thinner enoxaparin within a few hours after curative pituitary surgery may help reduce the risk of blood clots forming in people with Cushing’s disease, a new study suggests. The study “Venous thromboembolic (VTE) prophylaxis in Cushing disease patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery” was published in…

A rare case of a man with severe Cushing’s syndrome due to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing lung tumor, initially evident as a benign mass and further complicated by a history of metastatic rectal cancer, was described by scientists. “Case Report: A Challenging Localization of a Pulmonary…

A 62-year-old man with an aggressive form of Cushing’s disease had his diagnosis delayed because his symptoms initially resembled those of ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, according to a recent case report. Researchers said the case serves as an important reminder that “suspicion should be maintained” for a pituitary source…

A 14-year-old girl with aggressive Cushing’s disease developed cavernous sinus thrombosis — a rare condition that causes blood clots to form in a cavity at the base of the brain — after an initial surgery to remove a benign tumor in the pituitary gland. Her case highlights that cavernous sinus…

The risk of blood clot formation — commonly higher than normal in people with Cushing’s syndrome — persists during the first six months after curative surgery, but is comparable to that of healthy people in patients achieving long-term remission, a study has found. These findings may help physicians decide…

Ahead of this year’s Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill, held virtually July 14–22, the EveryLife Foundation will award grants to top advocates of rare disease organizations who participate in the week’s pre-events. The top 50 point-earners will be eligible to win $1,000 to $5,000in  grants, totaling up…