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Ency. home > Disease > C > Cushing's syndrome - caused by adrenal tumor

Cushing's syndrome - caused by adrenal tumor    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Treatment

Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenal tumor is treated by surgical removal of the tumor. In inoperable cases of adrenal carcinoma, certain medications can suppress the secretion of cortisol. Medications used may be mitotane, ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, or metyrapone. Irradiation of the tumor is rarely effective in patients with adrenal carcinomas and never required in adrenal adenomas. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy is usually required until the other adrenal gland recovers from the surgery.Nine totwelve months of therapy may be required.

Prognosis

Prognosis of patients with adrenal adenoma is excellent because surgery is almost always curative. In adrenal carcinoma, the surgery is not curative (most of the time), and the survival is between 14 to 36 months after the diagnosis.

Complications

  • Adrenal carcinomas can result in metastasis (spread) of the tumor to the liver or lungs

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of Cushing's syndrome develop.

Ency. home > Disease > C > Cushing's syndrome - caused by adrenal tumor

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