Medical Treatment of Cushings Disease

Cushings disease, also called Cushings syndrome, is caused by prolonged high levels of the cortisol hormone. Possible treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and administration of drugs that inhibit the production of cortisol. If the disease is brought on by the use of glucocortoid hormones for some other illness, your doctor may reduce your medication gradually.

Pituitary Adenomas

• If the disease is caused by pituitary adenomas--tumors of the pituitary gland--the most common treatment is to surgically remove the tumor (see Resources).

Ectopic ACTH Syndrome

• Tumors that occur outside the pituitary gland can produce the adrenocorticotropin hormone, which causes the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. In this case the tumor, which may be cancerous or benign, will be surgically removed. Treatment for the cancer will follow the surgery.

Adrenal Tumors

• Tumors of the adrenal gland require surgical removal. In some cases, adrenal glands may also need to be removed.

Medications

• Medications are used to treat Cushings disease if you are unable to go through surgery. Some drugs include ketocanazole, aminoglutethimide and mitotane.

Signs and Symptoms

• Cushings disease causes obesity of the upper body, a rounded face, easy bruising, poor healing of wounds, weak bones, excess body hair, irregular menstruation in women and lower fertility in men. According to Skull Base Institute, left untreated the disease can also cause fatigue, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, pathological bone fractures, diabetes, hypertension and premature death (see Resources).