title: A rare presentation of subclinical Cushing's syndrome as a pubic fracture.
abstract: Osteoporosis and bone fractures are commonly seen in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). Fractures usually occur in the vertebrae and ribs whereas pubic fractures are less common. Similar to obvious hypercortisolemia, subclinical hypercortisolemia can increase the risk of fractures. However, in subclinical cases, bone fractures are very rarely seen as the presenting symptom. We herein report the case of a 62-year-old postmenopausal woman who was presented with a pubic fracture. During the evaluation of the fracture, thoracoabdominal magnetic resonance imaging of the patient demonstrated an adrenal mass. Although the patient did not show any signs of overt hypercortisolism, an endocrinologic evaluation revealed hypercortisolism due to an adrenal tumor. Adrenalectomy was performed, which resulted in a cure of the disease. During the orthopedic follow-up, the patient's pubic area pain gradually improved, and the pubic fracture healed without any accompanying new bone fractures. One year after the surgery, a remarkable improvement was detected in the patient's bone density in spite of the lack of administration of any medications for osteoporosis. Subclinical CS can present as a pubic fracture, and awareness of this relationship can help physicians to diagnose the disease.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arduc
authors.forename: Bercem Aycicek
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Gulhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akbaba
authors.forename: Iffet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dagdelen
authors.forename: Kerim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kucukler
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozuguz
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berker
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guler
mesh_terms: D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome