Mariana Farage, Mario Alberto da Dantas Loures Costa, Amélio Fernando Godoy-Matos
Serviço de Metabologia, Instituto Estadual de Diabetes e Endocrinologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia 2012 JulACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome (CS) due to ectopic ACTH production is most times difficult to manage. The identification of the source of ACTH may take many years. Surgery or chemotherapy for the primary tumor is not always possible. Control of Cushing symptoms is many times achieved using medication, or bilateral adrenalectomy in refractory cases. This case presents a Brazilian male who showed severe hypertension, mood changes, muscle weakness, darkening of skin, and increased abdominal fat. An investigation for Cushing syndrome was carried out and, after a four-year follow-up, a carotid glomus tumor (chemodectoma) was confirmed, a rare ectopic ACTH-producing tumor. Besides, the patient presented cyclic Cushing syndrome that was exacerbated by diverticulitis episodes. This case presents interesting pitfalls on diagnosis and management of ACTH-dependent CS. This is the only report of a chemodectoma that produced ACTH in the literature.
Mariana Farage, Mario Alberto da Dantas Loures Costa, Amélio Fernando Godoy-Matos. A rare case of Cushing syndrome by cyclic ectopic-ACTH. Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia. 2012 Jul;56(5):324-30
PMID: 22911286
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