Ectopic ACTH syndrome from bronchogenic carcinoma in association with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

A patient under treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia developed lobar pneumonia after 8 months. When antileukaemic therapy was discontinued, features of an ectopic ACTH syndrome developed, secondary to bronchogenic carcinoma. Exogenous steroid therapy for leukaemia seemed to suppress the clinical manifestations of the ectopic ACTH syndrome while subsequent endogenous steroid production controlled the peripheral lymphocyte count.