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[Children with obesity and declining linear growth curve: Cushing's disease?]

Esther M van Wezel1, Hanneke M van Santen, Wouter R van Furth

  • 1Emma Kinderziekenhuis AMC, Afd. Kinderendocrinologie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|December 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Two children with Cushing's disease experienced severe weight gain and growth failure. Successful treatment involved metyrapone and surgery, highlighting the need to rule out endocrine disorders in such cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern.
  • Cushing's disease is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by excess cortisol.
  • Weight gain and growth failure in children can indicate underlying endocrine pathology.

Observation:

  • Two pediatric patients presented with extreme weight gain and stunted height.
  • Both children were diagnosed with Cushing's disease.

Findings:

  • Preoperative treatment with metyrapone was administered to both patients.
  • Both patients underwent successful curative transsphenoidal surgery.

Implications:

  • The combination of weight gain and growth failure in a child warrants investigation for rare endocrine diseases like Cushing's.
  • Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric Cushing's disease.
  • This case series emphasizes the importance of considering rare endocrine disorders in the differential diagnosis of pediatric obesity and growth disturbances.

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