Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by O'RIORDAN, J. L. H.
Right arrow Articles by NABARRO, J. D. N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by O'RIORDAN, J. L. H.
Right arrow Articles by NABARRO, J. D. N.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Q J Med 1966; 35: 137-147
© 1966 Association of Physicians

research-article

CORTICOTIROPHIN-SECRETING CARCINOMAS

J. L. H. O'RIORDAN, G. P. BLANSHARD, AUDREY MOXHAM and J. D. N. NABARRO

Middlesex Hospital London, W. 1

Received 11 May 1965 The syndrome of adrenal cortical overactivity resulting from corticotrophin producing malignant tumours is reviewed. The primary neoplasm is most commonly an oat-cell carcinoma of the bronchus. The patient's appearance does not resemble that seen in Cushing's syndrome. Common symptoms include muscle weakness, oedema, mental disturbance, and skin pigmentation. The diagnosis is often suggested by the presence of a hypokalaemic alkalosis believed to result from the very high level of cortisol production. Other types of tumour include atypical thymomas, mediastinal neoplasms, malignant bronchial carcinoids and islet-cell carcinoma of the pancreas. In these cases the progress of the disease is slower and the classical picture of Cushing's syndrome more often seen.

Five cases are described. Three were due to oat-cell carcinomas of the bronchus, one to a mediastinal neoplasm of uncertain origin and one to a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. One of these patients was treated by total adrenalectomy and two others by the long-term administration of metyrapone.

A case of Cushing's syndrome associated with a benign bronchial carcinoid is also reported. This association has been described before, but there is in sufficient evidence to show whether there is any causal relationship between the two conditions.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Postgrad. Med. J.Home page
K M A Amer, N B N Ibrahim, C P Forrester-Wood, R A Saad, and M Scanlon
Lung carcinoid related Cushing's syndrome: report of three cases and review of the literature
Postgrad. Med. J., July 1, 2001; 77(909): 464 - 467.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.