Cushing's syndrome associated with adenocarcinoma of the lung

Intern Med. 2003 Sep;42(9):831-3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.42.831.

Abstract

Paraneoplastic Cushing's syndrome caused by ectopic adrenocorticotropin production has been reported in association with a variety of malignant tumors. However, most cases of this syndrome are associated with neuroendocrine tumors such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), carcinoid tumors, and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. We present a 49-year-old man who developed Cushing's syndrome associated with adenocarcinoma of the lung. He had a wide variety of clinical symptoms and comorbidity related to this syndrome during the course, and died 4 months after the diagnosis. This is a very rare case report of Cushing's syndrome associated with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / etiology*
  • ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / physiopathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Cushing Syndrome / etiology*
  • Cushing Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging