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Is It Possible To Have Cushing's Disease With Tumor?
Question: Is it possible to have cushing's disease/syndrome with a tumor on the pituitary gland yet not have the disease? If so, what else could it be? My sister has the tumor and multiple symptoms. Hormones out of whack, cortisol issues, the list goes on. But after so many specialists either they misdiagnosed or just dont know what's going on.
Brief Answer:
Needs endocrinologist
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your sisters' medical condition.
She most certainly needs a comprehensive assessment by a qualified endocrinologist. Cushings disease/syndrome refers to an entity where the body has excess cortisol levels in the blood. Only after this is documented, that one proceeds to study the pituitary to look for a potential cause.
Your sisters' pituitary tumor requires systematic evaluation for the possibility of other hormonal problems and not just cortisol.
Examples include growth hormone, thyroid hormone, reproductive hormones and prolactin.
Based upon these lab results in addition to an extensive examination in person, further testing will be considered. Treatment is begun only after an accurate diagnosis is are.
There are relatively uncommon conditions so it is best that she sees an endocrinologist in a center that has vast experience in managing such problems. Academic endocrinology departments such as those affiliated with Universities and medical colleges with teaching programs often have faculty doctors who are skilled in addressing these problems.
Needs endocrinologist
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your sisters' medical condition.
She most certainly needs a comprehensive assessment by a qualified endocrinologist. Cushings disease/syndrome refers to an entity where the body has excess cortisol levels in the blood. Only after this is documented, that one proceeds to study the pituitary to look for a potential cause.
Your sisters' pituitary tumor requires systematic evaluation for the possibility of other hormonal problems and not just cortisol.
Examples include growth hormone, thyroid hormone, reproductive hormones and prolactin.
Based upon these lab results in addition to an extensive examination in person, further testing will be considered. Treatment is begun only after an accurate diagnosis is are.
There are relatively uncommon conditions so it is best that she sees an endocrinologist in a center that has vast experience in managing such problems. Academic endocrinology departments such as those affiliated with Universities and medical colleges with teaching programs often have faculty doctors who are skilled in addressing these problems.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
she does see an endocrinologist. Speaking to our mother the blood test showed as borderline or the test was not done properly. Also could be linked to prolactin melanoma?
But my online research shows much of the symptoms pointing towards cushings. She does have issues with prolactin and cortisol though.
Would a treatment for cushings also treat the prolactin melanoma if that is an issue?
It's possible they could be operating within the next 1-2 months but any and all educated theories/ideas would be great instead of the continued waiting.
But my online research shows much of the symptoms pointing towards cushings. She does have issues with prolactin and cortisol though.
Would a treatment for cushings also treat the prolactin melanoma if that is an issue?
It's possible they could be operating within the next 1-2 months but any and all educated theories/ideas would be great instead of the continued waiting.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I see.
Sometimes the diagnosis is not clear cut owing to marginal cortisol elevations. Cushings syndrome has been often known to be a challenging diagnosis, especially when presentation is atypical, ie meaning not the full blown form.
There is no such thing as prolactin melanoma. You are probably trying to imply a prolactin secreting adenoma.
Treatment for Cushings will treat the prolactin in select circumstances only. But these are complex and uncommon situations, such as presence of a large cortisol secreting pituitary tumor which causes the prolactin to rise, and then after successful surgery, both cortisol and prolactin may normalize.
I would like to emphasize that endocrinology is one of the most complicated fields of medicine. It takes specialized doctors upto a decade to master these phenomena. So I sincerely request you to not get discouraged while attempting to understand the problem at a detailed level.
The decision to operate is a difficult one because the treating doctors would want definitive proof that the tumor in the pituitary is indeed the one responsible for problems. If they perform surgery without such evidence, they will be disappointed that she may not improve at all after the surgery.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I see.
Sometimes the diagnosis is not clear cut owing to marginal cortisol elevations. Cushings syndrome has been often known to be a challenging diagnosis, especially when presentation is atypical, ie meaning not the full blown form.
There is no such thing as prolactin melanoma. You are probably trying to imply a prolactin secreting adenoma.
Treatment for Cushings will treat the prolactin in select circumstances only. But these are complex and uncommon situations, such as presence of a large cortisol secreting pituitary tumor which causes the prolactin to rise, and then after successful surgery, both cortisol and prolactin may normalize.
I would like to emphasize that endocrinology is one of the most complicated fields of medicine. It takes specialized doctors upto a decade to master these phenomena. So I sincerely request you to not get discouraged while attempting to understand the problem at a detailed level.
The decision to operate is a difficult one because the treating doctors would want definitive proof that the tumor in the pituitary is indeed the one responsible for problems. If they perform surgery without such evidence, they will be disappointed that she may not improve at all after the surgery.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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