Cushing Syndrome Associated With Ectopic Corticotropin and Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone–Secreting Pheochromocytoma





Most patients with corticotropin (ACTH)-dependent Cushing syndrome (CS) will have an ACTH-secreting pituitary microadenoma. Approximately 15% of patients with ACTH-dependent CS have an ectopic source of ACTH secretion. The most common neoplasms associated with ectopic ACTH secretion are bronchial carcinoid (≈25%), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (≈16%), occult and unlocalized tumor (≈16%), small cell lung cancer (≈11%), medullary thyroid carcinoma (≈9%), other neuroendocrine tumors (≈7%), thymic carcinoid (≈5%), and pheochromocytoma (≈3%). The main clues that a patient may have ectopic ACTH-dependent CS include severe CS as evidenced by spontaneous hypokalemia and 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) >1000 mcg, rapid onset of CS (sometimes so rapid that there is not time to develop the typical physical stigmata of CS), previous diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumor, and male sex. Herein we present a case of ectopic secretion of ACTH and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from a pheochromocytoma causing severe CS.


Case Report


The patient was a 49-year-old woman who presented with a 1-month history of lower extremity edema, polydipsia, and polyuria. She had a 6-year history of untreated hypertension. She had no recent weight gain. On physical examination her blood pressure was 210/115 mmHg. She appeared cushingoid with a plethoric face, lanugo-type facial hair, central obesity, red abdominal striae, and edema ( Fig. 63.1 ).




Fig. 63.1


Photographs show neck and facial plethora, fine lanugo hair on the checks, and supraclavicular and dorsocervical fat pads.


INVESTIGATIONS


The laboratory test results are shown in Table 63.1 . Severe hypercortisolism was documented with a 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion that was more than 100-fold elevated above the upper limit of normal. Although the patient was clearly cushingoid on physical examination, there was a mismatch between the severity of hypercortisolism and the physical stigmata of CS, which was consistent with a short duration of disease. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed a 4-cm left adrenal mass ( Fig. 63.2 ). The 24-hour urine for total metanephrines and fractionated catecholamines confirmed that the patient had an adrenergic pheochromocytoma (see Table 63.1 ). Adrenal venous sampling confirmed a gradient of both ACTH and CRH from the left adrenal gland ( Box 63.1 ).



TABLE 63.1

Laboratory Tests




































































Biochemical Test Result Repeat Test Result Reference Range
Sodium, mEq/L 139 135–145

Potassium, mEq/L

3.6

3.6–5.2

Fasting plasma glucose, mg/dL

312

70–100

8 am serum cortisol, mcg/dL

74

7–25

ACTH, pg/mL

550

10–60

CRH, pg/mL

2

11

<34

24-Hour urine:

Free cortisol, mcg

12,454

<108

Total metanephrines, mcg

5.4

<1.3

Norepinephrine, mcg

476

<80

Epinephrine, mcg

1124

<20

Dopamine, mcg

279

<400

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Aug 8, 2022 | Posted by in ENDOCRINOLOGY | Comments Off on Cushing Syndrome Associated With Ectopic Corticotropin and Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone–Secreting Pheochromocytoma

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