Re: Cushing's Syndrome surgical outcomes

Julie Bove writes:

> There was a woman who used to post here who was eventually diagnosed with
> Cushing's Syndrome.  In her case, I don't think there was an operation, but
> she was given steroids which would then eventually bring on diabetes.

Cushing's syndrome is just a set of symptoms.  Curing it depends on
curing whatever is causing the symptoms.  Steroids are _not_ used to
cure the syndrome; it's an excess of steroids that is usually the
_cause_ of the syndrome.  People who take steroids over long periods, as
for allergies, may develop Cushing's syndrome.

> I wasn't aware that there was a cure for Cushing's.

Cushing's _disease_ is one cause of Cushing's syndrome.  In Cushing's
disease, the adrenal glands produce too much steroid, and this excess of
steroids is what produces the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.  One way
to treat Cushing's disease is to remove part of the adrenal glands, thus
reducing their output of steroids; if this is done correctly and
successfully, the disease is cured.  Sometimes the glands produce too
much because of tumors (benign or malignant); removing the tumors cures
the disease.

Anything that produces an excess of steroids in the body will produce
Cushing's syndrome.  Steroid administration used to treat other diseases
is a very common cause of the syndrome.

The symptoms of Cushing's syndrome include chronic hyperglycemia, i.e.,
diabetes mellitus.  Eliminating whatever causes the symptoms will
eliminate the hyperglycemia, and thus will eliminate the DM.

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