Medical Health Encyclopedia

Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor


InjuryDiseasesNutritionPoison
SymptomsSurgeryTestSpecial Topic
Adrenal metastases, CT scan
Adrenal metastases, CT scan
Adrenal Tumor - CT
Adrenal Tumor - CT
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Alternative Names

Adrenal tumor - Cushing syndrome


Treatment

Cushing syndrome due to an adrenal tumor is treated with surgery to remove the tumor and often the entire adrenal gland.

Glucocorticoid replacement treatment is usually needed until the other adrenal gland recovers from surgery. You may need this treatment for 9 - 12 months.

If surgery is not possible (such as in cases of adrenal cancer), medicines can be used to stop the release of cortisol. These include:

  • Aminoglutethimide
  • Ketoconazole
  • Mifepristone
  • Mitotane

Radiation therapy usually does not work for cancerous adrenal tumors and is not appropriate for noncancerous tumors.





Support Groups


Expectations (prognosis)

Patients with an adrenal tumor who have surgery have an excellent outlook. Surgery success rates are very high with this type of tumor.

For adrenal cancer, surgery is sometimes not possible. When surgery is performed, it does not always cure the cancer.


Complications

Cancerous adrenal tumors can spread to the liver or lungs.


Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you develop any symptoms of Cushing syndrome.



Review Date: 11/23/2009
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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