Cushing's disease in children: a single-centre experience

To review our institutional experience of paediatric Cushing's disease (CD) over the last 15 years to determine outcomes and complications.

We reviewed clinical details, neuroradiology and outcomes of all children who underwent surgery for CD in our institution between 2006 and 2023.

25 children (14F) age 5-16 years (mean 11.8) underwent surgery for CD. 18 were pre-pubertal at diagnosis. Duration of symptoms to diagnosis was 2 months - 9 years (2.1 years). 70% percent had growth failure. Mean morning, sleeping midnight and 24-h urinary cortisol concentrations were 593, 476 and 652 nmol/L respectively. Inferior petrosal sinus sampling confirmed central ACTH secretion in all cases. MRI revealed an adenoma in 18 children (2.6 - 7 mm diameter). Microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) was performed in 14 and 11 respectively. Biochemical remission was achieved in 19 patients (76%) after TSS. There was no difference between the two operative approaches. Six failures were treated with revisional surgery (3), radiotherapy (2) or metyrapone / ketoconazole (1). Six children had transient diabetes insipidus post-operatively. CSF rhinorrhoea occurred in three cases and was managed successfully by a lumbar drain.

CD in children is almost always diagnosed late despite established signs and symptoms, including weight gain and growth failure. TSS is as effective as in adults. A multidisciplinary team is crucial to the safe and effective management of these children.