Snapshot A 42-year-old obese woman who does not smoke presents with diastolic hypertension and menstrual irregularities. Physical exam shows a full, plethoric-appearing face, increased facial hair, truncal obesity, and purple striae around the abdomen. Scattered echymoses are present over the entire body. Labs show a Hgb of 18 g/dL and a WBC of 18,000/mm^3. The leukocyte differential shows an absolute neutrophillic leukocytosis. CXR is normal. Introduction A condition that refers to the manifestations of hypercortisolism results in hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex specifically the fasiculata There are several types iatrogenic Cushing's patients taking steroids is the most common cause of Cushing's syndrome pituitary adenoma (Cushing's disease) most common pathogenic cause (70%) majority of adenomas are benign adrenal Cushing's adenoma of the adrenals ectopic Cushing's ectopic ACTH secretion extremely high ACTH most commonly from small cell carcinoma of the lung less commonly thymic cancer Presentation Symptoms depression and psychological changes oligomenorrhea growth retardation weakness catabolism of muscle for gluconeogenesis symptoms of diabetes (polydipsia, polyuria, and dysuria) Physical exam diastolic hypertension central obesity muscle wasting thin skin that easily bruises/purple abdominal striae due to weakening of collagen hirsutism moon facies buffalo hump Evaluation Labs hyperglycemia cortisol is gluconeogenic hypokalemia at high concentrations cortisol can have partial activity at the aldosterone receptor screen for 24-hour free urinary cortisol as well as a serum cortisol level high positive and negative predictive value serum ACTH to localize lesion iatrogenic ↓ ACTH pituitary ↑ ACTH adrenal ↓ ACTH ectopic ↑ ACTH if ACTH is high, then use high dose dexamethasone suppression test pituitary ↓ cortisol production (i.e. production is suppressible) ectopic no change in cortisol (i.e. production is NOT suppressible)
QUESTIONS 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 Previous Next Lab Values Blood Hematologic Cerebrospinal Sweat, Urine, and BMI Blood, Plasma, Serum Reference Range ALT 8-20 U/L Amylase, serum 25-125 U/L AST 8-20 U/L Bilirubin, serum (adult) Total // Direct 0.1-1.0 mg/dL // 0.0-0.3 mg/dL Calcium, serum (Ca2+) 8.4-10.2 mg/dL Cholesterol, serum Rec: < 200 mg/dL Cortisol, serum 0800 h: 5-23 μg/dL //1600 h: 3-15 μg/dL 2000 h: ≤ 50% of 0800 h Creatine kinase, serum Male: 25-90 U/LFemale: 10-70 U/L Creatinine, serum 0.6-1.2 mg/dL Electrolytes, serum Sodium (Na+) 136-145 mEq/L Chloride (Cl-) 95-105 mEq/L Potassium (K+) 3.5-5.0 mEq/L Bicarbonate (HCO3-) 22-28 mEq/L Magnesium (Mg2+) 1.5-2.0 mEq/L Estriol, total, serum (in pregnancy) 24-28 wks // 32-36 wks 30-170 ng/mL // 60-280 ng/mL 28-32 wk // 36-40 wks 40-220 ng/mL // 80-350 ng/mL Ferritin, serum Male: 15-200 ng/mLFemale: 12-150 ng/mL Follicle-stimulating hormone, serum/plasma Male: 4-25 mIU/mL Female: premenopause: 4-30 mIU/mL midcycle peak: 10-90 mIU/mL postmenopause: 40-250 pH 7.35-7.45 PCO2 33-45 mmHg PO2 75-105 mmHg Glucose, serum Fasting: 70-110 mg/dL2-h postprandial:<120 mg/dL Growth hormone - arginine stimulation Fasting: <5 ng/mLProvocative stimuli: > 7ng/mL Immunoglobulins, serum IgA 76-390 mg/dL IgE 0-380 IU/mL IgG 650-1500 mg/dL IgM 40-345 mg/dL Iron 50-170 μg/dL Lactate dehydrogenase, serum 45-90 U/L Luteinizing hormone, serum/plasma Male: 6-23 mIU/mL Female: follicular phase: 5-30 mIU/mL midcycle: 75-150 mIU/mL postmenopause 30-200 mIU/mL Osmolality, serum 275-295 mOsmol/kd H2O Parathyroid hormone, serume, N-terminal 230-630 pg/mL Phosphatase (alkaline), serum (p-NPP at 30° C) 20-70 U/L Phosphorus (inorganic), serum 3.0-4.5 mg/dL Prolactin, serum (hPRL) < 20 ng/mL Proteins, serum Total (recumbent) 6.0-7.8 g/dL Albumin 3.5-5.5 g/dL Globulin 2.3-3.5 g/dL Thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum or plasma .5-5.0 μU/mL Thyroidal iodine (123I) uptake 8%-30% of administered dose/24h Thyroxine (T4), serum 5-12 μg/dL Triglycerides, serum 35-160 mg/dL Triiodothyronine (T3), serum (RIA) 115-190 ng/dL Triiodothyronine (T3) resin uptake 25%-35% Urea nitrogen, serum 7-18 mg/dL Uric acid, serum 3.0-8.2 mg/dL Hematologic Reference Range Bleeding time 2-7 minutes Erythrocyte count Male: 4.3-5.9 million/mm3Female: 3.5-5.5 million mm3 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Westergren) Male: 0-15 mm/hFemale: 0-20 mm/h Hematocrit Male: 41%-53%Female: 36%-46% Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 6 % Hemoglobin, blood Male: 13.5-17.5 g/dLFemale: 12.0-16.0 g/dL Hemoglobin, plasma 1-4 mg/dL Leukocyte count and differential Leukocyte count 4,500-11,000/mm3 Segmented neutrophils 54%-62% Bands 3%-5% Eosinophils 1%-3% Basophils 0%-0.75% Lymphocytes 25%-33% Monocytes 3%-7% Mean corpuscular hemoglobin 25.4-34.6 pg/cell Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration 31%-36% Hb/cell Mean corpuscular volume 80-100 μm3 Partial thromboplastin time (activated) 25-40 seconds Platelet count 150,000-400,000/mm3 Prothrombin time 11-15 seconds Reticulocyte count 0.5%-1.5% of red cells Thrombin time < 2 seconds deviation from control Volume Plasma Male: 25-43 mL/kgFemale: 28-45 mL/kg Red cell Male: 20-36 mL/kgFemale: 19-31 mL/kg Cerebrospinal Fluid Reference Range Cell count 0-5/mm3 Chloride 118-132 mEq/L Gamma globulin 3%-12% total proteins Glucose 40-70 mg/dL Pressure 70-180 mm H2O Proteins, total < 40 mg/dL Sweat Reference Range Chloride 0-35 mmol/L Urine Calcium 100-300 mg/24 h Chloride Varies with intake Creatinine clearance Male: 97-137 mL/minFemale: 88-128 mL/min Estriol, total (in pregnancy) 30 wks 6-18 mg/24 h 35 wks 9-28 mg/24 h 40 wks 13-42 mg/24 h 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids Male: 3.0-10.0 mg/24 hFemale: 2.0-8.0 mg/24 h 17-Ketosteroids, total Male: 8-20 mg/24 hFemale: 6-15 mg/24 h Osmolality 50-1400 mOsmol/kg H2O Oxalate 8-40 μg/mL Potassium Varies with diet Proteins, total < 150 mg/24 h Sodium Varies with diet Uric acid Varies with diet Body Mass Index (BMI) Adult: 19-25 kg/m2 Calculator ( ) xy AC 7 8 9 ÷ 4 5 6 × 1 2 3 - 0 . = + Sorry, this question is for PEAK Premium Subscribers only Upgrade to PEAK (M1.EC.74) A 35-year-old Caucasian female presents to the hospital alarmed by her recent truncal weight gain, facial hair growth, and thinning skin. During the physical exam, the physician finds that the patient is hypertensive. Serum analysis reveals hyperglycemia. The physician suspects a pituitary adenoma. Which dexamethasone test result would help confirm the physician's suspicions? Review Topic QID: 100375 1 Low-dose, increased ACTH; high-dose, increased ACTH 13% (2/15) 2 Low-dose, increased ACTH; high-dose, decreased ACTH 13% (2/15) 3 Low-dose, decrease in ACTH; high-dose, no change in ACTH 0% (0/15) 4 Low-dose, no change in ACTH; high-dose, no change in ACTH 27% (4/15) 5 Low-dose, no change in ACTH; high-dose, decreased ACTH 47% (7/15) M1 Select Answer to see Preferred Response PREFERRED RESPONSE 5 (M1.EC.90) A 50-year-old female is evaluated by her physician for recent weight gain. Physical examination is notable for truncal obesity, wasting of her distal musculature and moon facies. In addition she complains of abnormal stretch marks that surround her abdomen. The physician suspects pituitary adenoma. Which of the following high-dose dexamethasone suppression test findings and baseline ACTH findings would support his view? Review Topic QID: 100391 FIGURES: A 1 Cortisol suppression, normal baseline ACTH 13% (10/75) 2 Cortisol suppression, high baseline ACTH 44% (33/75) 3 No cortisol suppression, high baseline ACTH 20% (15/75) 4 No cortisol suppression, low baseline ACTH 11% (8/75) 5 Elevation of cortisol above pre-test levels, high baseline ACTH 9% (7/75) M1 Select Answer to see Preferred Response PREFERRED RESPONSE 2 (M1.EC.96) A 34-year-old Caucasian female presents with truncal obesity, a rounded "moon face", and a "buffalo hump". Serum analysis shows hyperglycemia. It is determined that a pituitary adenoma is the cause of these symptoms. Adrenal examination is expected to show? Review Topic QID: 100397 1 Atrophy of the adrenal cortex 0% (0/14) 2 Diffuse hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex 93% (13/14) 3 Atrophy of the adrenal medulla 0% (0/14) 4 Adrenal adenoma 7% (1/14) 5 Atrophy of the adrenal gland 0% (0/14) M1 Select Answer to see Preferred Response PREFERRED RESPONSE 2