Cushing syndrome due to adrenal tumor

Alternative Names

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 non-cancerous tumors.

Outlook (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.

Possible Complications

Cancerous adrenal tumors can spread to the liver or lungs.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

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

References

Stewart PM. The Adrenal Cortex. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR. Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 14.