About this Research Topic
Since Harvey Cushing first reported a case in 1912 and published on the subject in 1932, Cushing’s syndrome and disease have remained relatively rare and highly problematic conditions with a number of causes, challenging diagnoses, and highly individualized treatments.
Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by prolonged hypercortisolism. While diagnosis of the exogenous form can be easy as it is due to extended intake of steroids, correct diagnosis of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome can be extremely challenging. Cushing’s disease is differentiated as a disorder characterized by dysregulated secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from a pituitary source, most frequently a pituitary adenoma. In ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, ACTH hypersecretion is caused by a neuroendocrine tumor located outside the pituitary gland. ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome is related to an adrenal source of excess cortisol, and sometimes associated with inherited disorders (e.g., Carney Complex) or related to aberrant receptor expression.
Clinical manifestations of Cushing’s syndrome vary widely and affect multiple systems; these include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, psychiatric disease, and hypercoagulability. Diagnosis thus poses a challenge for clinicians and frequently requires the correct use of multiple laboratory tests and targeted imaging. Given the many and diverse causes of Cushing’s syndrome, treatment options are varied, can be technically challenging, and frequently require a multidisciplinary approach.
Further research into the mechanisms, diagnoses, and treatment options of Cushing’s syndrome and disease is needed to address the many needs of patients and to improve outcome.
This Research Topic will collect original research, reviews, and mini reviews on the diagnosis, treatment, and physiopathology of Cushing’s syndrome and disease. The objective is to collect novel insights into the disease in order to help clinicians in the management of patients and to guide further research.
Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by prolonged hypercortisolism. While diagnosis of the exogenous form can be easy as it is due to extended intake of steroids, correct diagnosis of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome can be extremely challenging. Cushing’s disease is differentiated as a disorder characterized by dysregulated secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from a pituitary source, most frequently a pituitary adenoma. In ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, ACTH hypersecretion is caused by a neuroendocrine tumor located outside the pituitary gland. ACTH-independent Cushing’s syndrome is related to an adrenal source of excess cortisol, and sometimes associated with inherited disorders (e.g., Carney Complex) or related to aberrant receptor expression.
Clinical manifestations of Cushing’s syndrome vary widely and affect multiple systems; these include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, psychiatric disease, and hypercoagulability. Diagnosis thus poses a challenge for clinicians and frequently requires the correct use of multiple laboratory tests and targeted imaging. Given the many and diverse causes of Cushing’s syndrome, treatment options are varied, can be technically challenging, and frequently require a multidisciplinary approach.
Further research into the mechanisms, diagnoses, and treatment options of Cushing’s syndrome and disease is needed to address the many needs of patients and to improve outcome.
This Research Topic will collect original research, reviews, and mini reviews on the diagnosis, treatment, and physiopathology of Cushing’s syndrome and disease. The objective is to collect novel insights into the disease in order to help clinicians in the management of patients and to guide further research.
Keywords: cushing's disease, cushing's syndrome, hypercortisolism
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