Cushing’s disease, also called adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) producing pituitary tumor, causes excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. It is dangerous and leads to multiple complications. If you are looking for Cushing’s disease treatment, look no further than Dr. Rao’s hospital, the best neurosurgery hospital in Guntur and India. Contact us for the best care for your dear one @ 9010056444.
Excessive cortisol production causes:
- Weight gain, particularly in the abdomen and neck
- Loss of muscle
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of sexual function
- Infertility
- Loss of menstrual periods
- Thin skin, easy bruising, and red stretch marks, usually on the abdomen
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Osteoporosis and bone fractures
- Abnormal lipids (cholesterol)
- Heart disease
- Kidney stones
Diagnosing Cushing’s Disease
Cushing’s disease is the most challenging diagnosis of all pituitary disorders.
The diagnosis requires two separate stages:
- The first stage establishes if you’re producing cortisol
- The second stage determines the precise cause of this excess cortisol production
A multidisciplinary approach involving endocrinologists and neurosurgeons is essential for the correct diagnosis and appropriate management of patients with Cushing’s disease.
Screening for Excess Cortisol Production
Three screening tests detect excess and abnormal cortisol production:
- 24-hour urine-free cortisol levels
- Late-night salivary cortisol levels
- Overnight low-dose dexamethasone test
Since these tests aren’t 100% accurate, several tests are often needed to confirm a diagnosis. These include:
- Measurement of serum ACTH levels
- CRH stimulation test
- Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (requires hospitalization and a procedure by an interventional or endovascular neurosurgeon)
- CT or MRI scans
Treatment for Cushing’s Disease
Surgery is the gold standard treatment for the removal of the tumor.
Medications
Medication is used to control adrenal gland cortisol overproduction but does not treat the source of the problem, the pituitary tumor. Careful monitoring is necessary to establish the optimal dose and to determine if it’s effective and has no unwanted effects on the liver.
Radiation Therapy
If surgery does not work, we can use stereotactic irradiation to return cortisol production to normal and control tumor growth. Radiation treatment works in 50% to 60% of patients.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery is another option. It provides a precisely targeted, single dose of radiation compared to conventional irradiation therapy, which takes five weeks of daily treatment.
If you are looking for Cushing’s disease treatment, look no further than Dr. Rao’s hospital, the best neurosurgery hospital in Guntur and India. Contact us for the best care for your dear one @ 9010056444.