Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
07:43

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Paediatric Cushing's syndrome: epidemiology, investigation and therapeutic advances

Helen L Storr1, Li F Chan, Ashley B Grossman

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|April 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cushing

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Cushing's syndrome (CS) is rare in children, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
  • Paediatric endocrinologists often lack extensive experience managing pediatric CS.
  • Management requires protocols similar to adult CS, adapted for pediatric needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of pediatric Cushing's syndrome.
  • To guide the diagnosis and treatment strategies for pediatric CS.
  • To address long-term management challenges for growth, bone health, and reproduction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiology and diagnostic approaches for pediatric CS.
  • Critical appraisal of treatment strategies for ACTH-independent and ACTH-dependent CS.
  • Discussion of post-cure management for optimizing long-term outcomes.

Main Results:

  • CS in children requires specialized diagnostic protocols.
  • Effective treatment strategies exist for both ACTH-independent and ACTH-dependent CS.
  • Long-term follow-up is crucial for addressing growth, bone health, and reproductive issues.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric Cushing's syndrome necessitates tailored diagnostic and therapeutic protocols.
  • Management requires a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from adult CS expertise.
  • Optimizing long-term health outcomes in pediatric CS patients is essential.

Related Concept Videos

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction01:26

Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction

Cushing syndrome refers to the collection of clinical manifestations that arise when tissues are exposed to excessive amounts of cortisol or cortisol-like medications over an extended period. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, regulates metabolism, immune responses, and the body’s adaptation to stress. When its concentration remains chronically elevated, these physiological pathways become dysregulated, resulting in the characteristic features of the syndrome.Exogenous...
Adrenal Gland Disorders01:27

Adrenal Gland Disorders

Adrenal gland disorders manifest when the production of adrenal hormones deviates from the norm, resulting in either excessive or insufficient concentrations.
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...