Cushing’s syndrome caused by an ACTH-producing large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder

Malignancies of the gallbladder, including neuroendocrine tumors, are uncommon, mostly found incidentally after cholecystectomy and are frequently asymptomatic in the early stages, but highly fatal. Limited data is available on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) producing neuroendocrine tumors specifically originating from the gallbladder. We report the clinical and radiographic findings, which included positron emission tomography and computed tomography, of a patient with a gallbladder mass who presented with Cushing’s syndrome. Subsequently, a diagnosis of ACTH-producing large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder was made. Despite being rare and having a poor prognosis, hormone-producing neuroendocrine tumors should be part of the differential diagnosis in the approach of patients with Cushing’s syndrome.

Primary aldosteronism due to bilateral micronodular hyperplasia and concomitant subclinical Cushing’s syndrome:A case report

BACKGROUND Adrenal incidentaloma(AI)has been frequently encountered in the clinical setting.It has been shown that primary aldosteronism(PA)or subclinical Cushing’s syndrome(SCS)are the representative causative diseases of AI.However,the coexistence of PA and SCS has been reportedly observed.Recently,we encountered a case of AI,in which PA and SCS coexisted,confirmed by histopathological examinations after a laparoscopic adrenalectomy.We believe that there were some clinical implications in the diagnosis of the present case.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old man presented with lower right abdominal pain with a blood pressure of 170/100 mmHg.A subsequent computed tomography scan revealed right ureterolithiasis,which was the cause of right abdominal pain,and right AI measuring 22 mm×25 mm.After the disappearance of right abdominal pain,subsequent endocrinological examinations were performed.Aldosterone-related evaluations,including adrenal venous sampling,revealed the presence of bilateral PA.In addition,several cortisol-related evaluations showed the presence of SCS on the right adrenal adenoma.A laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was then performed.The histopathological examination of the resected right adrenal revealed the presence of a cortisol-producing adenoma,while CYP11B2 immunoreactivity was absent in this adenoma.However,in the adjacent nonneoplastic adrenal,multiple CYP11B2-positive adrenocortical micronodules were detected,showing the presence of aldosterone-producing adrenocortical micronodules.CONCLUSION Careful clinical and pathological examination should be performed when a patient harboring AI presents with concomitant SCS and PA.

Giant adrenal tumor presenting as Cushing’s syndrome and pheochromocytoma:A case report

We report a case of a 35-year-old lady who presented with Cushingoid features and associated raised urinary metanephrine.The patient underwent open adrenelectomy.Histopathological examination revealed adreno-cortical carcinoma with microscopic lymphovascular invasion.Postoperative period was uneventful and is on follow-up for the last one year and is doing well.

Severe Ectopic Cushing’s Syndrome Due to ACTH-Secreting Pheochromocytoma

We report a new case of ectopic Cushing’s syndrome caused by an ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma. A 55-year-old woman presented with a history of severe proximal muscle weakness, polyuria, progressive virilization, anxiety, dyspnea on exercise, difficult to treat hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus since 4 months. The laboratory data demonstrated ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism. The abdominal computed tomography scan showed a 30 mm well-defined mass in the left adrenal gland suggestive for pheochromocytoma. The adrenal veins were sampled, with intraprocedural cortisol measurement, to dosing selective ACTH and cathecolamines. The results established clearly the left adrenal gland as the source of ACTH overproduction. A left sided adrenalectomy was performed with subsequent resolution of Cushing’s syndrome. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition.

Midnight Salivary Cortisol and Other Effective Factors in the Graduation of Clinical Suspect of Cushing Syndrome: Is There Any Reasonable Clinical Score?

Background: Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) at the right time and with the right method is getting more important for the patients and clinicians due to high mortality rate. The most appropriate laboratory test will provide great benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness in the well-chosen group of patients. Selection of the high risk group is of crucial importance for the true diagnosis and treatment on time. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the worth of the midnight salivary cortisol and to establish other effective factors in the graduation of clinical suspect of CS. Material and Methods: 115 patients were evaluated in weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, systolic, diastolic blood pressures, hirsutism, weight gain, purple-stria, plethore, buffalo-hump, supraclavicular fullness, temporal fat cushion, acnea, moonface, proximal muscle weakness, lower limb edema, ecchymosis, loss of libido, depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, allopecia of all patients were noted in the evaluation forms (23 findings). Patients were grouped according to clinical scores, low (16). Results: When we compare the groups in terms of midnight salivary cortisol, morning salivary cortisol after overnight dexamethasone suppression test, we found statistically significant relationship between the low and high clinical score groups, as well as between medium and high score groups (p: 0.0001). Urinary free cortisol was statistically significant only between low and high clinical score groups (p: 0.0001). Conclusion: This clinical scoring system which includes clinical signs and laboratory findings both, can be used for selection of the high risk group.

Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling for the treatment of Cushing's disease Data from 52 cases from one institute over an eight-year period

The present study analyzed data from 108 Cushing＇s disease patients, who underwent transsphenoidal surgery in one hospital between January 2003 and April 2010, to investigate the performance value of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling （BIPSS）. Of the 108 patients 52 underwent BIPSS prior to surgery and 56 did not. Results showed that BIPSS accuracy for the diagnosis of Cushing＇s disease was 86.5% （45/52）, and accuracy for adenoma lateralization during surgery was 76.9% （40/52）. In addition, early remission rate was significantly greater compared to patients without BIPSS. Results demonstrated that BIPSS facilitated localization and diagnosis of Cushing＇s disease and helped to predict adenoma lateralization.

Clinical,Biochemical,and Radiological Retrospective Analysis in Patients with Adrenal Incidentaloma-A Secondary Publication

Objective:To evaluate the epidemiological,demographic,clinical features,treatment approaches,and survival of patients followed up for adrenal incidentaloma.Methods:Data from 46 patients who were treated and followed up due to adrenal incidentaloma in the Endocrinology Department of Mersin University Health Research and Application Hospital between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Of the cases included in the study,13 were male,33 were female,and the mean age was 54.09±10.7 years.The most common reason for admission was abdominal pain in 34.78%of the patients,the most commonly diagnosed radiological method was dynamic adrenal CT in 60.87%,and the most common location was the left adrenal gland.The mean lesion diameter was between 26.8±16.5 mm.The frequency of hypertension was 50%,obesity 47.8%,type 2 diabetes 21.7%,osteoporosis 42.8%,and metabolic syndrome 41.3%.According to hormonal evaluation results,non-functional adrenal adenoma(NFAA)was found in 82.61%,subclinical Cushing’s syndrome(SCS)in 15.21%,and aldosteronoma in 2.1%.Myelolipoma,pheochromocytoma,and adrenocortical adenoma were diagnosed in 8 cases undergoing adrenalectomy.One patient died due to liver failure.No hormonal activation or growth in lesion size was detected during the follow-up of the patients.Conclusion:Due to the very different pathological and radiological appearances of adrenal incidentaloma,it is important to evaluate demographic,etiological,clinical,laboratory,and radiological data as a whole in the treatment and follow-up.

Metabolic profile differences in ACTH-dependent and ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome

Background:The most common etiologies of Cushing’’s syndrome(CS)are adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-producing pituitary adenoma(pitCS)and primary adrenal gland disease(adrCS),both of which burden patients with metabolic disturbance.The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic features of pitCS and adrCS patients.Methods:A retrospective review including 114 patients(64 adrCS and 50 pitCS)diagnosed with CS in 2009-2019 was performed.Metabolic factors were then compared between pitCS and adrCS groups.Results:Regarding sex,females suffered both adrCs(92.2%)and pitCS(88.0%)more frequently than males.Regarding age,patients with pitCS were diagnosed at a younger age(35.40±11.94 vs.39.65±11.37 years,p=0.056)than those with adrCS,although the difference was not statistically significant.Moreover,pitCS patients had much higher ACTH levels and more serious occurrences of hypercortisolemia at all time points(8 AM,4 PM,12 AM)than that in adrCS patients.Conversely,indexes,including body weight,BMI,blood pressure,serum total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),triglycerides,fasting plasma glucose,and uric acid,showed no differences between adrCS and pitCS patients.Furthermore,diabetes prevalence was higher in pitCS patients than in adrCS patients;however,there were no significant differences in hypertension or dyslipidemia prevalence between the two.Conclusions:Although adrCS and pitCS had different pathogenetic mechanisms,different severities of hypercortisolemia,and different diabetes prevalences,both etiologies had similar metabolic characteristics.

CHANGES OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHM OF GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR IN PERIPHERAL LEUKOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH CUSHING'S SYNDROME

The existence of circadian rhythm (CR) of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in human peripheral leukocytes has been reported by us previously and it may be of physiological significance because CR of GR synchronizes with that of the reactivity of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PML)to cortisol (F). Since GR is regulated by glucocorticoid (GC)which also fluctuates diurnally, it remains to be answered whether CR of GR is autonomous or secondary to CR of plasma GC. It is well known that CR

Cushing＇s syndrome during pregnancy caused by adrenal cortical adenoma： a case report and literature review

Cushing＇s syndrome （CS） during pregnancy is a rare condition with Significant maternal and fetal complications. A case of CS during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to adrenocortical adenoma was reported. Literature review revealed the disadvantages of different treatments in this period. Besides the conservative treatment, surgery is recommended for CS during the third trimester of pregnancy secondary to adrenal adenoma, if an experienced surgeon is available.

库欣综合征的诊疗进展

库欣综合征(CS)是一种由肾上腺皮质分泌过多糖皮质激素引起的内分泌疾病,其诊断与治疗均具挑战性。诊断过程需结合实验室和影像学检查,进行筛查、定性及定位。治疗方式以手术为主,但药物治疗同样也占据重要地位。随着对CS发病机制的深入了解,发现了更多孤儿药研发的潜在靶点。本文总结了CS的诊疗现状,并对未来的研究方向做出了展望。

Pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis:The link between hypercortisolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Based on the available literature,non alcoholic fatty liver disease or generally speaking,hepatic steatosis,is more frequent among people with diabetes and obesity,and is almost universally present amongst morbidly obese diabetic patients.Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is being increasingly recognized as a common liver condition in the developed world,with non alcoholic steatohepatitis projected to be the leading cause of liver transplantation.Previous data report that only 20%of patients with Cushing’s syndrome have hepatic steatosis.Aiming at clarifying the reasons whereby patients suffering from Cushing’s syndrome-a condition characterized by profound metabolic changes-present low prevalence of hepatic steatosis,the Authors reviewed the current concepts on the link between hypercortisolism and obesity/metabolic syndrome.They hypothesize that this low prevalence of fat accumulation in the liver of patients with Cushing’s syndrome could result from the inhibition of the so-called low-grade chronicinflammation,mainly mediated by Interleukin 6,due to an excess of cortisol,a hormone characterized by an anti-inflammatory effect.The Cushing’s syndrome,speculatively considered as an in vivo model of the hepatic steatosis,could also help clarify the mechanisms of non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia

Cushing’s syndrome is the set of clinical manifestations secondary to a chronic excess of glucocorticoids. Bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia with subclinical cortisol secretion is the most common, but its prevalence remains unknown. We describe a case of bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. This is a 36-year-old female patient who had been consulting for secondary amenorrhea and developing asthenia for 4 months. The clinical examination noted an overweight patient with high blood pressure, facio-trunk obesity, hirsutism and purple stretch marks in the abdomen and thighs. Biologically, hypokalemia at 2.9 meq/l (3.5 - 5.4), normal calcemia at 90 mg/l (85 - 104), fasting blood sugar was 0.84 g/l (0.7 - 1), the tests for minute, low and high dexamethasone suppression test revealed insufficient suppression of cortisol. The cortisoluria collected from the second day to the third day of the high dexamethasone suppression test was at 186 μg/24 h (<60), the ACTH (Pg/ml) was undetectable (6.4 - 49.8). The diagnosis of an independent adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) Cushing syndrome was made and the adrenal CT scan revealed bilateral macronodular hyperplasia. A bilateral adrenalectomy was performed and a complete remission of Cushing syndrome was achieved. We prescribed to her, hydrocortisone 20 mg/day and alpha-fludrocortisone 25 to 50 μg/day, This medical observation showed that macro-nodular adrenal hyperplasia with overt Cushing syndrome can occur in the third decade of life. Bilateral adrenalectomy has resulted in a complete cure for Cushing’s syndrome, but may be fraught with complications.

Familial primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease without Carney complex (CNC): A case report and review of literature

Primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) is a rare cause of familial Cushing's syndrome. It is characterized by bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia with small to normal-sized adrenal glands containing multiple small adrenal cortical pigmented nodules [1,2]. PPNAD may occur in an isolated form or as familial PPNAD. Familial cases of PPNAD are usually associated with Carney complex in which Cushing’s syndrome is the most common endocrine manifestation [3]. Familial cases of PPNAD without associated Carney complex are very rare. Only a few cases of familial isolated PPNAD have been reported in the literature, mostly in females [4]. Isolated familial PPNAD has got a better prognosis than familial PPNAD associated with Carney Complex. This observation has important consequences for clinical management, follow-up and genetic counselling of such patients. Familial cases of PPNAD are rare and mostly present in females with associated Carney complex. We herein report a case of familial Cushing’s syndrome in male siblings due to PPNAD without associated Carney complex.

1例妊娠合并促肾上腺皮质激素非依赖性库欣综合征患者的围手术期护理

总结1例妊娠合并促肾上腺皮质激素非依赖性库欣综合征患者行肾上腺瘤切除术围手术期的护理经验。护理要点包括妊娠高血压的管理、预防子痫;术中多学科协作管理、实施个性化手术体位安置、精准补充激素;术后做好预防肾上腺危象、个体化快速康复护理,同时给予心理护理及延续性护理。经过精心治疗和护理,患者恢复良好,术后第6天康复出院,随访6个月预后良好。

Characteristics of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome due to thymic carcinoid and analysis of the molecular mechanism

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） secretion rfrom a non-pituitary tumor is a main cause of Cushing＇s syndrome, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although early studies showed that the predominant cause of ectopic Cushing＇s syndrome is small cell carcinomas of the lungs, the incidence of carcinoid, including thymic carcinoid, has increased substantially in recent surveys） This evidence suggested that the clinical syndrome of ectopic ACTH production only occurs in tumors with high proopiomelanocortin （POMC, the precursor to ACTH） transcripts generated from the start of the pituitary transcription initiation site.2

库欣综合征术后继发于亚急性甲状腺炎的甲状腺危象1例报道

患者为46岁女性,因库欣综合征5月前行肾上腺腺瘤切除术,予糖皮质激素替代逐步减量中,3周前因咽痛、饮水呛咳、恶心、呕吐自行停药。之后出现高热及意识障碍,化验提示甲状腺功能亢进,予丙硫氧嘧啶及β受体阻滞剂后意识障碍进行性加重,结合炎性指标升高、TSH受体抗体阴性及摄碘率低平考虑为亚急性甲状腺炎,加用糖皮质激素治疗后病情好转,甲亢缓解。

腹部CT检查发现的939例肾上腺病变患者的临床分析

目的探讨腹部CT检查发现的肾上腺病变的检出率、病因构成、临床特点及诊治现状。方法回顾性分析2014年7月~2015年6月于南方医科大学南方医院影像中心行腹部CT检查报告提示肾上腺有异常改变的门诊和住院患者的病历资料,包括患者性别、年龄、影像特征、生化检验、临床诊断、治疗方式、术后病理、发现病变的原因等。结果(1)本院1年内行腹部CT检查的患者共19 004例,检查提示存在肾上腺病变的患者共939例,检出率为4.9%。其中男性560例(59.6%),女性379例(40.4%),平均就诊年龄为53.2岁。肾上腺占位在总体肾上腺病变中所占比例随年龄递增呈有上升趋势。行内分泌功能评估的患者有270例(28.8%),无功能性病变占38.9%,功能性病变中原发性醛固酮增多症比例最高,占16.3%;库欣综合征和亚临床库欣综合征各占4.1%和7.0%;嗜铬细胞瘤占7.0%。(2)共发现肾上腺意外瘤191例,检出率为1.0%,其中良性腺瘤占70.3%,肾上腺皮质癌和肾上腺转移癌的比例分别为2.4%和0.5%。只有76例(39.8%)患者进行了内分泌功能评估,其中无功能瘤34例,占44.7%;功能性病变以嗜铬细胞瘤最常见,占22.4%,而原发性醛固酮增多症和亚临床库欣综合征各占9.2%和6.6%。结论我院所有腹部CT检查中肾上腺病变的检出率达4.9%,肾上腺意外瘤的检出率1.0%。虽然大多数肾上腺病变为良性无功能病变,但仍有部分具有内分泌功能或为恶性病变。临床上约有60%的肾上腺意外瘤患者未进行内分泌功能的评估,功能亢进的病变极易被漏诊。临床医生需要进一步提高对肾上腺意外瘤的认识并规范其诊疗流程。

健康调查简表用于库欣综合征患者生活质量评价的信效度检验

目的评价健康调查简表(36-item short form,SF-36)用于测量库欣综合征患者生活质量的信度和效度。方法 2011年1月至2012年4月便利选取上海市瑞金医院内分泌科的73例库欣综合征患者,采用SF-36对研究对象进行调查,信度检验包括内部一致性信度和折半信度,结构效度检验采用因子分析法。结果 SF-36内部一致性信度的Cronbachα系数为0.822,折半信度Spearman-Brown系数为0.771;将8个维度的得分进行因子分析,提取2个公因子,累计方差贡献率为64.587%。结论中文版SF-36用于评价国内库欣综合征患者的生活质量具有较好的信度和效度,接受性好;在目前国内库欣综合征患者的生活质量研究尚处于初级阶段的前提下,可推广应用。

唾液皮质醇参考区间的建立及其临床意义评价

目的初步建立酶联免疫吸附分析法（ELISA）检测唾液皮质醇（SC）参考区间,并评价其在诊断库欣综合征中的意义。方法招募健康成人志愿者（NS组）120例,非库欣综合征患者（NCS组）55例和库欣综合征患者（CS组）7例,分别于08：00、16：00及24：00收集唾液,并同步采血,NS组只在08：00采血。用ELISA法测定SC,用化学发光免疫分析法（CLIA）测定血清皮质醇（STC）。结果健康成人SC在08：00、16：00和24：00参考区间分别为：4.9~24.9nmol/L,2.2~16.0nmol/L,0.7~10.1nmol/L。3组受试者SC在08：00、16：00和24：00结果分别为,NS组：（14.9±5.1）nmol/L、（9.1±3.5）nmol/L、（5.4±2.4）nmol/L;NCS组：（17.6±5.3）nmol/L、（12.1±3.6）nmol/L、（9.7±4.8）nmol/L;CS组：（33.1±8.6）nmol/L、（36.4±14.2）nmol/L、（30.6±10.6）nmol/L。CS组各时间点SC均明显高于NCS组和NS组,NCS组也较NS组高,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。3组受试者STC在08：00结果分别为：（428±118）nmol/L（NS组）、（509±254）nmol/L（NCS组）、（672±190）nmol/L（CS组）;CS组STC在08：00较NS组高（P〈0.05）;而与NCS组比,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;STC在16：00和24：00结果分别为：NCS组：（295±136）nmol/L、（109±98）nmol/L;CS组：（689±160）nmol/L、（624±131）nmol/L;CS组STC在16：00和24：00明显高于NCS组（P〈0.001）。受试者各时间点SC与STC均呈良好线性相关,相关系数r依次为：0.602、0.876、0.859（P〈0.01）。各时间点SC诊断库欣综合征ROC曲线下面积分别：0.950、0.989、0.995,若分别以SC在08：00、16：00和24：00参考区间上限为切点诊断库欣综合征,敏感性分别为85.7%、85.7%、100%,特异性为93.3%、92.7%和85.0%;若分别以17.4nmol/L、12.5nmol/L、16.4nmol/L为切点,敏感性提高为100%,特异性为70.7%、80.0%、97.6%。结论 SC呈昼夜节律变化,与STC有良好的相关性,是评价肾上腺皮质功能和筛查诊断CS的方便、无创、敏感的检测指标。