[An intracranial tumor in an unusual location associated with Cushing's syndrome]

In a 58 year-old woman with peracute Cushing's syndrome high levels of ACTH were proved by RIA method. Autopsy showed normal pituitary gland in addition to a voluminous tumour situated in planum sphenoidale and lamina cribrosa ossis ethmoidalis. Tumour cells with epithelial features produced ACTH which was found by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Tumour was classified as ectopic corticotropic pituitary adenoma.