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. 1987 Oct;63(744):887–889. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.63.744.887

Ectopic Cushing's syndrome with periodic hormonogenesis--a case suggesting a pathogenetic mechanism.

V Estopiñán 1, C Varela 1, P Riobo 1, J R Dominguez 1, J Sancho 1
PMCID: PMC2428613  PMID: 2833733

Abstract

We report on a case of ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to a thymic carcinoid tumour with periodic hormonogenesis. Periods of hormonal production averaged 27 days. Prior to bilateral adrenalectomy, mean (s.d) values of ACTH and cortisol were 202.1 (50.3) pg/ml and 46 (14.7) micrograms/dl, ACTH rising to 3996 +/- 425 pg/ml (P less than 0.01) and cortisol falling to 6.3 +/- 1.5 micrograms/dl (P less than 0.01) in the immediate postoperative period. During the late postoperative period (2-13 months following surgery) ACTH levels fell to 509.3 (123.8) pg/ml (P less than 0.01), but remaining even higher (P less than 0.01) than before adrenalectomy. The pattern of ACTH in the present case suggests the existence of a negative feedback exerted by the cortisol over tumoral ACTH.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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