Patient Develops Cyclic Cushing’s Syndrome Due to Lung Neuroendocrine Tumor

Posted on January 26, 2026 by MaryO

Tumors located outside the pituitary gland that produce the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) may cause, on rare occasions, cyclic Cushing’s syndrome — when cortisol levels show substantial fluctuations over time.

That finding, based on the case of a patient with ACTH-secreting lung cancer,  is found in the study, “Cyclic Cushing’s syndrome caused by neuroendocrine tumor: a case report,” which was published in Endocrine Journal.

Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by too much cortisol, either due to adrenal tumors that produce cortisol in excess, or because too much ACTH in circulation — resulting from ACTH-producing tumors — act on the adrenal glands to synthesize cortisol.

Cyclic Cushing’s syndrome (CCS) is a rare type of Cushing’s in which cortisol production is not steadily increased. Instead, it cyclically fluctuates, from periods with excessive cortisol production interspersed with periods of normal levels.

The fluctuations in cortisol levels over time pose difficulties for a definite diagnosis. Moreover, the precise mechanism underlying the periodic peaks of cortisol peaks are unknown.

Investigators now reported the case of a 37-year-old man admitted to the hospital due to repeated attacks of dizziness, weakness, and high cortisol levels for two weeks.

Repeated tests measuring the levels of cortisol in the blood and a 24-hour urine free cortisol (24 hUFC) assay confirmed a cyclic fluctuation of cortisol, with levels peaking three times and dropping twice (the standard rule for diagnosing CSC).

Upon hospitalization, he further developed high blood pressure and weight gain.

The patient underwent computed tomography (CT) scans, which revealed the presence of an ACTH-secreting tumor in the lungs, the likely cause of the patient’s Cushing’s symptoms. These type of tumors are called neuroendocrine tumors because they are able to release hormones into the blood in response to signals from the nervous system.

Additional scans detected tumors in the adrenal and pituitary glands, but further analysis revealed they were non-functioning tumors, i.e., as their name indicates, they didn’t release excessive ACTH. The thyroid gland also was positive for a tumor.

The patient underwent resection surgery to remove the tumor located in the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. After the surgery, the levels of cortisol in the blood and urine returned to normal, confirming the tumor as the source of the CSC.

The patient also received surgery to remove his thyroid tumor.

An analysis of the patient’s genomic DNA revealed a novel mutation in the PDE11A gene, which is linked to a rare form of ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome called primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) type 2.

Whether the patient developed PPNAD, however, and the contribution of a potential PPNAD diagnosis to the CCS, requires further investigation. “To explore pathogenicity of the genetic mutation, we will still plan for a follow-up visit to this patient,” researchers wrote.

From https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/2019/01/24/patient-develops-cyclic-cushings-syndrome-due-to-lung-neuroendocrine-tumor/

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Cushing’s Syndrome Subtype Affects Postoperative Time to Adrenal Recovery

Posted on January 25, 2026 by MaryO

Berr CM. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;doi:10.1210/jc.2014-3632.

January 16, 2015

In patients undergoing curative surgical tumor resection for Cushing’s syndrome, the time to recovery of adrenal function is contingent upon the underlying etiology of the disease, according to recent findings.

In the retrospective study, researchers reviewed case records of 230 patients with Cushing’s syndrome. All patients were seen at a tertiary care center in Munich between 1983 and 2014, whose cases were documented in the German Cushing’s Registry. Patients were divided into three subgroups of Cushing’s syndrome: Cushing’s disease, adrenal Cushing’s syndrome and ectopic Cushing’s syndrome.

After applying various exclusion criteria, the researchers identified 91 patients of the three subgroups who were undergoing curative surgery at the hospital. The patients were followed for a median of 6 years. The researchers defined adrenal insufficiency as the need for hydrocortisone replacement therapy, and collected this information from patient records and laboratory results.

The duration of adrenal insufficiency was calculated as the interval between successful surgery and the completion of hydrocortisone replacement therapy. Cushing’s syndrome recurrence was defined as biochemical and clinical signs of hypercortisolism.

The researchers found a significant difference between Cushing’s syndrome subtypes in the likelihood of regaining adrenal function within 5 years of follow-up: The probability was 82% in ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, 58% in Cushing’s disease and 38% in adrenal Cushing’s syndrome (P=.001). Among the 52 participants who recovered adrenal function, the median type to recovery also differed between subtypes and was 0.6 years in ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, 1.4 years in Cushing’s disease and 2.5 years in adrenal Cushing’s syndrome (P=.002).

An association also was found between younger age and adrenal recovery in the Cushing’s disease participants (P=.012).

This association was independent of sex, BMI, symptom duration, basal adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels. No association was seen between adrenal recovery and length of hypercortisolism or postoperative glucocorticoid replacement dosage.

“It is the main finding of this series that the median duration of tertiary adrenal insufficiency was dependent on the etiology of [Cushing’s syndrome]: It was shortest in the ectopic [Cushing’s syndrome], intermediate in [Cushing’s disease] and longest in adrenal [Cushing’s syndrome] caused by unilateral cortisol producing adenoma,” the researchers wrote. “The significant difference to [Cushing’s disease] is an unexpected finding since by biochemical means cortisol excess is generally less severe in adrenal [Cushing’s syndrome]. If confirmed by others, our data have clinical impact for the follow-up of patients after curative surgery: Patients should be informed that adrenocortical function may remain impaired in benign conditions such as cortisol-producing adenoma.”

Disclosure: The study was funded in part by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung.

The original article is here: Healio

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Low Cortisol Levels Hours After Surgery Predict Long-term Remission in Cushing’s Patients

Posted on January 21, 2026 by MaryO

The level of decline in blood cortisol levels in the immediate period after transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s disease may help predict which patients will achieve long-term disease remission.

The study, “Earlier post-operative hypocortisolemia may predict durable remission from Cushing’s Disease” was published in the European Journal of Endocrinology.

Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is a minimally invasive procedure for removing pituitary adenomas and is the primary treatment for Cushing’s disease.

But, while 77 to 98 percent of patients achieve remission after TSS, a third of these patients eventually will see their disease returning.

The surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma often leads to a drop in the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels (hypocortisolemia).

“In the post-operative setting, failure to achieve hypocortisolemia is thought to reflect the presence of residual tumor cells,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Therefore, serum cortisol has become a well-established biochemical marker of early surgical remission.”

In an attempt to identify patients with a complete tumor resection – and with lower risk of recurrence – researchers examined the rates of serum cortisol decline in the immediate period after surgery.

The study included 257 Cushing’s disease patients who underwent 291 TSS interventions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 2003 and 2016.

After surgery, patients had their cortisol levels measured every six hours until the third day after surgery. Then, patients had their cortisol levels measured every morning until day 10 or were discharged.

Early remission was defined based on nadir serum cortisol levels – the lowest concentration of cortisol, that is usually reached during the night – below 5 μg/dL.

Of 268 unique admissions, 90 percent of patients (241) achieved remission with a post-operative cortisol nadir below 5 μg/dL within 10 postoperative days.

However, recurrence was seen in 9 percent of these patients. For those with a cortisol nadir below 2 μg/dL, the rates of recurrence dropped to 6 percent.

Interestingly, the team found that cortisol levels below 5 μg/dL by 15 hours after surgery or below 2 μg/dL in the first 21 hours may “accurately predict durable remission in the intermediate term.”

“In our cohort, early, profound hypocortisolemia could be used as a clinical prediction tool for durable remission,” the researchers wrote.

“Such a clinical prediction tool may have significant utility in the management of [Cushing’s disease]. Further validation of its accuracy in a multi-centre prospective study with longer-term follow up is warranted,” the study concluded.

From https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/2018/01/18/low-cortisol-levels-after-surgery-may-predict-remission-cushings-disease/

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ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) Now Available in Canada for the Treatment of Cushing’s Disease

Posted on January 20, 2026 by MaryO

ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing’s disease who have persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after primary pituitary surgery and/or irradiation, or for whom pituitary surgery is not an option.1

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2026 /CNW/ – Recordati Rare Diseases Canada Inc. announced today the Canadian product availability of ISTURISA® (osilodrostat) for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing’s disease who have persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism following pituitary surgery and/or irradiation, or for whom surgery is not an option.1 This is following the marketing authorisation of ISTURISA® in Canada on July 5, 2025.

Dr. André Lacroix, Professor of Medicine at the University of Montreal and internationally recognized authority in Cushing’s syndrome, commented on the importance of this new treatment option: ” ISTURISA® is an important addition to the treatment options for Cushing’s disease, a rare and debilitating condition. Achieving control of cortisol overproduction is an important strategy in helping patients manage Cushing’s disease.”

ISTURISA’s approval is supported by data from the LINC 3 and LINC 4 Phase III clinical studies, which demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) levels and showed a favourable safety profile. ISTURISA® is available as 1 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg film-coated tablets, enabling individualized titration based on cortisol levels and clinical response.1

About Cushing’s Disease

Cushing disease is a rare disorder of hypercortisolism caused by an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol. Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and impaired quality of life (QoL). Accordingly, normalization of cortisol is the primary treatment goal for Cushing disease.2

About Isturisa®

ISTURISA® is an inhibitor of 11β‐hydroxylase (CYP11B1), the enzyme responsible for the final step of cortisol synthesis in the adrenal gland. ISTURISA® is taken twice daily and is available as 1 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg film‐coated tablets, allowing for individualized titration based on cortisol levels and clinical response. For full prescribing information, healthcare professionals are encouraged to consult the Isturisa Product Monograph at https://recordatirarediseases.com/wp content/uploads/2025/08/ISTURISAProduct-Monograph-English-Current.pdf

Recordati Rare Diseases is Recordati’s dedicated business unit focused on rare diseases. Recordati is an international pharmaceutical Group listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (XMIL: REC), with roots dating back to a family-run pharmacy in Northern Italy in the 1920s. Our fully integrated operations span clinical development, chemical and finished product manufacturing, commercialisation and licensing. We operate in approximately 150 countries across EMEA, the Americas and APAC with over 4,500 employees.

Recordati Rare Diseases’ mission is to reduce the impact of extremely rare and devastating diseases by providing urgently needed therapies. We work side-by-side with rare disease communities to increase awareness, improve diagnosis and expand availability of treatments for people with rare diseases.

Recordati Rare Diseases Canada Inc. is the company’s Canada offices located inToronto, Ontario, with the North America headquarter offices located in New Jersey, US, and the global headquarter offices located in Milan, Italy.

This document contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and future operating, economic and financial results of the Recordati group. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they depend on the occurrence of future events and circumstances. Actual results may therefore differ materially from those forecast for a variety of reasons, most of which are beyond the Recordati group’s control. The information on the pharmaceutical specialties and other products of the Recordati group contained in this document is intended solely as information on the activities of the Recordati Group, and, as such, it is not intended as a medical scientific indication or recommendation, or as advertising.

References:
1. Isturisa® Product Monograph. 2025-07-03
2. Gadelha M et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jun 16;107(7): e2882-e2895

SOURCE Recordati Rare Diseases Canada Inc.

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Media Relations: spPR Inc., Sonia Prashar, 416.560.6753, Soniaprashar@sppublicrelations.com

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/isturisa-r-osilodrostat-now-available-in-canada-for-the-treatment-of-cushing-s-disease-879473023.html

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Transsphenoidal Surgery Leads to Remission in Children with Cushing’s Disease

Posted on January 19, 2026 by MaryO

Transsphenoidal surgery — a minimally invasive surgery for removing pituitary tumors in Cushing’s disease patients — is also effective in children and adolescents with the condition, leading to remission with a low rate of complications, a study reports.

The research, “Neurosurgical treatment of Cushing disease in pediatric patients: case series and review of literature,” was published in the journal Child’s Nervous System.

Transsphenoidal (through the nose) pituitary surgery is the main treatment option for children with Cushing’s disease. It allows the removal of pituitary adenomas without requiring long-term replacement therapy, but negative effects on growth and puberty have been reported.

In the study, a team from Turkey shared its findings on 10 children and adolescents (7 females) with the condition, who underwent microsurgery (TSMS) or endoscopic surgery (ETSS, which is less invasive) — the two types of transsphenoidal surgery.

At the time of surgery, the patients’ mean age was 14.8 years, and they had been experiencing symptoms for a mean average of 24.2 months. All but one had gained weight, with a mean body mass index of 29.97.

Their symptoms included excessive body hair, high blood pressure, stretch marks, headaches, acne, “moon face,” and the absence of menstruation.

The patients were diagnosed with Cushing’s after their plasma cortisol levels were measured, and there was a lack of cortical level suppression after they took a low-dose suppression treatment. Measurements of their adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone levels then revealed the cause of their disease was likely pituitary tumors.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, however, only enabled tumor localization in seven patients: three with a microadenoma (a tumor smaller than 10 millimeters), and four showed a macroadenoma.

CD diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and the presence of characteristic pituitary changes. The three patients with no sign of adenoma on their MRIs showed evidence of ACTH-containing adenomas on tissue evaluation.

Eight patients underwent TSMS, and 2 patients had ETSS, with no surgical complications. The patients were considered in remission if they showed clinical adrenal insufficiency and serum cortisol levels under 2.5 μg/dl 48 hours after surgery, or a cortisol level lower than 1.8 μg/dl with a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test at three months post-surgery. Restoration of normal plasma cortisol variation, eased symptoms, and no sign of adenoma in MRI were also requirements for remission.

Eight patients (80%) achieved remission, 4 of them after TSMS. Two patients underwent additional TSMS for remission. Also, 1 patient had ETSS twice after TSMS to gain remission, while another met the criteria after the first endoscopic surgery.

The data further showed that clinical recovery and normalized biochemical parameters were achieved after the initial operation in 5 patients (50%). Three patients (30%) were considered cured after additional operations.

The mean cortisol level decreased to 8.71 μg/dl post-surgery from 23.435 μg/dl pre-surgery. All patients were regularly evaluated in an outpatient clinic, with a mean follow-up period of 11 years.

Two patients showed pituitary insufficiency. Also, 2 had persistent hypocortisolism — too little cortisol — one of whom also had diabetes insipidus, a disorder that causes an imbalance of water in the body. Radiotherapy was not considered in any case.

“Transsphenoidal surgery remains the mainstay therapy for CD [Cushing’s disease] in pediatric patients as well as adults,” the scientists wrote. “It is an effective treatment option with low rate of complications.”

 

From https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/2019/01/15/transsphenoidal-surgery-enables-cushings-disease-remission-pediatric-patients-study/

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