title: A case of Cushing's syndrome in ACTH-secreting mediastinal paraganglioma.
abstract: Paragangliomas are unusual neuroendocrine cell tumors arising from paraganglia, of which ACTH-secreting cases in the mediastinum are extremely rare. A 51-year-old woman was admitted for generalized edema and weakness which began 5 months ago. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a tumor mass in the anterior mediastinum. The plasma cortisol and ACTH levels were very high. Other sources secreting ACTH, except mediastinal mass, were not found. Surgical excision of mediastinal mass and left supraclavicular lymph node was performed. The postoperative microscopic finding and immunohistochemical staining revealed organoid tumor cell nests (zellballen) and S-100 protein positive sustentacular cells which are characteristics of paraganglioma. This was thus a case of Cushing's syndrome resulting from ectopic ACTH production in anterior mediastinal paraganglioma.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rim
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone