Abstract

OTAZU, Magdalena et al. Catastrophic hypercortisolism and recurrence in Cushing´s disease: a case report and literature review. Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2022, vol.38, n.3, e702.  Epub Sep 01, 2022. ISSN 0303-3295.  https://doi.org/10.29193/rmu.38.3.13.

The study presents the case of a 27-year-old female patient with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) dependent Cushing’s disease and severe hypercortisolism caused by recurrent pituitary macroadenoma that was resistant to treatment despite two transsphenoidal surgeries, radiotherapy and medical treatment. Upon failure of the different therapies a bilateral adrenalectomy was performed as the final treatment. The patient died in after surgery although the case of death was not clear.

Despite bilateral adrenalectomy having been reports as an effective treatment in patients with Cushing’s disease, it has been related to significant mortality rates in connection with the severity of hypercortisolism and existing comorbilities.

In this case the left adrenalectomy ended up being an open surgery, which is associated to a higher mortality rate.

Keywords : Cushing’s syndrome; Bilateral adrenalectomy; Catastrophic Cushings.

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