title: Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy: a diagnostic conundrum.
abstract: A 31 year old woman who was 16 weeks pregnant was admitted because of headache, blurred vision, excessive weight gain, and hirsutism. Laboratory tests showed low adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and elevated serum and urinary cortisol. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a left adrenal mass. Left adrenalectomy was done, and histopathology showed an adrenal adenoma. The patient had an uncomplicated delivery after 37 weeks of gestation. Cushing's syndrome is very rare in pregnancy. It may be difficult to diagnose because the clinical and laboratory signs of Cushing's syndrome may be similar to those of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington WV, USA. vishnu.garla@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vishnu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington WV, USA.
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kheetan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington WV, USA.
authors.forename: Tipu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saleem
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D018246:Adrenocortical Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone