Cushing's syndrome. Analysis of 18 cases

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Cushing's syndrome is a complex endocrine disorder.
• Accurate diagnosis and localization are crucial for effective management.
• Treatment outcomes vary significantly based on the underlying pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of iodocholesterol scanning in localizing the source of Cushing's syndrome.
• To assess the impact of surgical treatment on different etiologies of Cushing's syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 18 patients with Cushing's syndrome.
• Utilized iodocholesterol scanning for disease localization.
• Reviewed surgical treatment outcomes based on histopathological findings.

Main Results:

• Eleven patients presented with hyperplasia, 5 with adenoma, and 3 with carcinoma.
• Iodocholesterol scanning demonstrated significant value in localizing the adrenal pathology.
• Surgery was curative for benign adrenal adenomas and hyperplasia.
• Malignant cases (carcinoma) showed minimal improvement with surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

• Iodocholesterol scanning is a valuable tool for pre-operative localization in Cushing's syndrome.
• Surgical management is highly effective for benign forms of Cushing's syndrome.
• The prognosis for malignant Cushing's syndrome remains poor despite surgical treatment.