Severe Cushing's Syndrome Related to a Small Pulmonary Carcinoid with Widespread Dissemination

Filippo Lococo; Aurelio Negro; Francesca Zanelli; Riccardo Valli; Angelina Filice; Cristian Rapicetta; Massimiliano Paci

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3450

CASE REPORTS

Severe Cushing's Syndrome Related to a Small Pulmonary Carcinoid with Widespread Dissemination

Filippo Lococo, Aurelio Negro, Francesca Zanelli, Riccardo Valli, Angelina Filice, Cristian Rapicetta, Massimiliano Paci

Author information

Keywords: Cushing's syndrome, bronchial carcinoids, PET/CT scan

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2015 Volume 54 Issue 5 Pages 477-480

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3450

Details

Abstract

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is characterized by the overproduction of cortisol that may result in significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. CS is very rarely caused by ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production from several tumors, although pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are the most common etiology. It is controversial whether such tumors are more clinically aggressive than other pNETs. We herein report an unusual case of severe ectopic CS caused by a small pulmonary carcinoid in the lung with massive neoplastic dissemination to the liver. We highlight and discuss the unusual clinical onset, with diagnostic and therapeutic criticism, of this rare entity.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!