title: Cushing syndrome in pregnancy secondary to an adrenal cortical adenoma.
abstract: Cushing syndrome in pregnancy is rare. This is explained by the syndrome's association with amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, infertility and abortions. Cushing syndrome commonly presents with hypertension, weight gain, diabetes, striae or truncal obesity, all of which can be consistent with pregnancy in women without Cushing syndrome. We describe a case of Cushing syndrome in pregnancy secondary to an adrenal cortical tumour which was discovered after an abnormal glucose tolerance test. The woman developed classical features of Cushing syndrome including gestational diabetes and hypertension and was managed successfully to term after a unilateral adrenalectomy at 23 weeks. The case is reported not only because of its rarity but also because the diagnosis was made after a routine screening test for gestational diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment of adrenal adenoma causing Cushing syndrome in pregnancy reduces maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King George V Memorial Hospital for Mothers and Babies, Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: MacGibbon
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brieger
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography