Cushing's syndrome classification
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamad Alkateb, MBBCh [2]
Overview
Cushing's syndrome may be classified according to the source of cortisol into four subtypes: endogenous, exogenous, familial Cushing's Syndrome, and pseudo-Cushing’s Syndrome.
Classification
Cushing's syndrome is classified into two main subtypes:
- Exogenous:
- Also called iatrogenic cushing's syndrome. It's due to taking glucocorticoids medications to treat inflammation caused by other diseases like allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and after organ transplantation.
- Endogenous:
- It's due to tumors originating from withing the body.
- Benign tumors:
- Pituitary adenoma
- Adrenal adenoma
- Adrenal micronodular hyperplasia
- Adenomas in places other than the pituitary or adrenal glands, mostly in the lungs, pancreas, thyroid, or thymus
- Malignant tumors:
- Adrenal cancer
- Cancer in places other than the pituitary or adrenal glands, mostly in the lungs, pancreas, thyroid, or thymus
- Familial Cushing's Syndrome
- Patients with rare genetic diseases like multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and primary pigmented micronodular adrenal disease are more susceptible to develop tumors in glands that affect cortisol levels. As a result, these patients will develop cushing's syndrome.
- Pseudo-Cushing’s Syndrome
- It's due to alcoholism, depression or other psychiatric disorders, obesity, pregnancy, and poorly controlled diabetes.