Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
An Orthotopic Endometrial Cancer Model with Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy Made From In Vivo Propagated and Cultured VX2 Cells
Published on: September 12, 2019
Ectopic Cushing's syndrome in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: A case report
Avraham Ishay1,2, Elia Touma3, Olga Vornicova4
1Endocrine and Diabetes Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula 18134, Israel.
Background:
Ectopic Cushing syndrome (ECS) is a rare condition commonly associated with neuroendocrine tumors (NET), mainly bronchial carcinoids. The association of paraneoplastic syndrome with Merkle cell carcinoma (MCC) is limited to individual case reports.
Case Summary:
In this article we report an unusual and striking presentation of ECS in a patient with known metastatic MCC. An elderly patient presented with new onset severe hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypokalemia, muscle wasting, and peripheral edema. A diagnosis of adrenocorticotropic hormone dependent, non-pituitary, Cushing syndrome was established. Medical therapy inhibiting adrenal function was promptly started but unfortunately the patient survived only a few days after diagnosis.
Conclusion:
The occurrence of an aggressive form of ECS in patients with NET should be recognized as an ominous event. To our knowledge, the association of this complication in a patient with MCC had not been reported.
