Diagnostic process in CD

Endogenous adrenocorticotroph hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's disease (CD) is a life-threatening illness caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Owing to an overlap with common symptoms of the general population such as overweight and hypertension, definite diagnosis is usually made years after disease-onset.

In order to obtain structured information on the diagnostic delay in patients with CD from a patients’ perspective, Kreitschmann-Andermaher et al conducted a survey of 176 patients with CD undergoing surgery at three major centres in Germany.

They report a clear difficulty in diagnosing CD could be attributed to  patients describing isolated symptoms to the Family Physician (FP)  or to respective specialists according to their fields of specialization. As FPs are contacted most frequently, the authors suggest that they should be trained to recognize the broad spectrum of CD symptoms, especially in female patients with weight gain, and initiate endocrinological referral.

Read full article by Kreitschmann-Andermaher et al. title ‘From first symptoms to final diagnosis of Cushing’s disease: experiences of 176 patients’ in European Journal of Endocrinology 2015 172 285-289. 

DOI:10.1530/EJE-14-0766