[Surgical treatment in Cushing's disease (authors' translation)]

We are presenting a series of 23 patients with Cushing disease selected from a larger study in which the ectopic production of ACTH (paraneoplastic or tumoral), adrenal adenoma or carcinoma were discarded. Sixteen were female and seven male. Diagnosis was fundamentally realized by clinical manifestations derived from hypercortisolism (obesity, muscular atrophy, diabetes, osteoporosis or polyglubulia). The polytomography demonstrated a deformed sella in 19 patients. Endocrine exams showed an alteration in rhythm of Cortisol and elevated levels of urinary metabolites. Others exams, Liddle Test, Metopirona Test, or stimulation of exogenic ACTH did not always permit diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. Plasmatic dosage of ACTH is the best test although results did not always agree with clinical manifestations. In each case we performed clinical treatment in preparation for surgery and later selective removal of adenoma or total pituitary ablation by transphenoidal approach. Of 21 patients, we found an adenoma during surgery in 15; the other 6 on whom we performed a total hypophysectomy, the pathological study showed an adenoma in 5 and a hyperemic gland with thick capillaries in 1. Another type of treatment was used on 2 due to their age. Nine patients were given post-operative radiotherapy. We conclude that microsurgery by transphenoidal approach offers the best possibilities for patients with Cushing disease.