Cushing's disease is a severe and rather rare endocrine disorder which mainly affects young patients of working age. Development of Cushing's disease is associated with the formation of pituitary adenoma – tumor which releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood in excessive amounts, such tumor is called corticotropinoma. ACTH normally regulates the adrenal glands which begin to produce cortisol. In case of corticotropinoma ACTH production increases and the adrenal glands respond by increasing cortisol secretion.
Apr 162014