The ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome in carcinoid tumors.
Ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone by carcinoid tumors is relatively uncommon and may not be recognized by physicians. This report describes a woman who had Cushing syndrome from the ectopic secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone by a carcinoid tumor. Her cause of death was a pneumonia that may have been secondary to her untreated hypercortisolism. There are threeinstructive elements of this case: 1) the recognition of Cushing syndrome, 2) the association of Cushing syndrome with low-grade (carcinoid tumors) as well as with high-grade (small cell carcinoma) neuroendocrine tumors, and 3) the need to treat the hypercortisolism as well as the tumor.
Fazel
Poorya
P
Departments of Internal Medicine (Fazel), Oncology (Ganesa, Mennel), and Pathology (Austin), Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Ganesa
Prasanthi
P
Mennel
Robert G
RG
Austin
Ned A
NA