Ectopic Cushing syndrome: Report of 9 cases

Severe ectopic Cushing syndrome in a transgender man with a metastatic gastrinoma and an adrenal tumor-A case report and review of the literature

A 38-year-old transgender man with advanced metastatic functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PanNEN) gastrinoma was admitted to the Department of Endocrinology due to severe ACTH-dependent hypercortisolemia. An ectopic production of ACTH by PanNEN was suspected. The patient qualified for bilateral adrenalectomy after preoperative treatment with metyrapone. Finally, the patient underwent resection of the left adrenal gland with the tumor only, which surprisingly resulted in a significant decrease in ACTH and cortisol levels, leading to clinical improvement. Pathology report revealed an adenoma of the adrenal cortex with positive ACTH staining. The result of the simultaneous liver lesion biopsy confirmed a metastatic NEN G2 with positive ACTH immunostaining as well. We looked for a correlation between gender-affirming hormone treatment and the onset of the disease and its rapid progression. This may be the first case describing the coexistence of gastrinoma and ectopic Cushing disease in a transsexual patient.

Bronchial Carcinoids: From Molecular Background to Treatment Approach

A better understanding of the genetic and molecular background of bronchial carcinoids (BCs) would allow a better estimation of the risk of disease progression and the personalization of treatment in cases of advanced disease. Molecular studies confirmed that lungs neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are different entities; thus, no progression of NET to NEC is expected. In BCs, MEN1 gene mutations and deletions and decreased gene expression have been associated with a poor prognosis. ATRX mutation has also been linked to a shorter disease-specific survival. In terms of therapeutic targets, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway mutations have been described in 13% of typical carcinoids (TCs) and 39% of atypical carcinoids (ACs), representing a targetable mutation with kinase inhibitors. Regarding treatment, surgical resection is usually curative in localized BCs and adjuvant treatment is not routinely recommended. Multiple options for systemic therapy exist for patients with advanced BCs, although limited by a heterogeneity in the scientific evidence behind their use recommendation. These options include somatostatin analogues, everolimus, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, antiangiogenic agents, and immunotherapy. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review about the molecular and genetic background of BCs, and about the treatment of local and metastatic disease, as well as the main paraneoplastic syndromes that have been associated with this tumor.

Ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to thymic neuroendocrine tumours: a systematic review

Knowledge of ectopic Cushing's syndrome (CS) due to thymic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) comes from short series or single cases. Our aim is to perform a systematic review using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ovid Medline and Biosis Previews of all cases with ectopic CS due to thymic NETs reported in the last 40 years and describe one illustrative patient attended in our institution. Search of literature: From 162 patients, 58.6% were male and mean age was 34.6 ± 13.9 years-old. Median of symptoms until diagnosis was 6 [2-24] months and 62% had aggressive CS. Imaging was positive in 93.7% (chest X-ray), 97.8% (computed tomography), 80.7% (somatostatin receptor scintigraphy) and median tumour size was 47 [25-68.5] mm. At presentation, 18% had localized disease, 26.2% locally invasive and 55.7% advanced. Eighty-eight present underwent surgery and histological subtypes were atypical (46.7%), typical (30.4%) and carcinoma (21.7%). Tumour persisted or recurred in 70.1%, 63% received radiotherapy and 45.2% chemotherapy. Follow-up median was 26.6 [14.5-57.5] months and mortality was reported in 35.8% with median survival of 38 [19-60] months. MEN-1 mutation was referred in 3.1%. Comparatively, carcinomas had aggressive CS more frequently while atypical showed advanced disease more often. In conclusion, thymic NETs causing ectopic CS are presented as aggressive hypercortisolism in the middle aged population. The disease is commonly extended at diagnosis and persists or recurs after surgery in most patients with a short term high mortality.

Inferior petrosal sinus sampling and stimulation with CRH: 15 years of experience in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND

Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is indicated in the diagnosis of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS), especially when the results of the initial diagnostic tests are discordant.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the patients who underwent this invasive functional test in a tertiary hospital.

METHODS

This was an observational study of a retrospective cohort of patients with ACTH-dependent CS and IPSS between 2004 and 2019. We determined their epidemiological, hormonal, radiological and functional characteristics, and evaluated their diagnostic capacity and optimal cut-off points to differentiate between Cushing's disease (CD) and ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS).

RESULTS

23 patients were evaluated, of which 65.2% were women with the average age of 42 (36-62) years. ACTH secretion of pituitary origin was evident in 82.6% of the patients and of ectopic origin in 17.4%. Plasma cortisol, urinary free cortisol, and ACTH levels were higher in patients with ECS. Regarding IPSS, the baseline central/peripheral ACTH gradient detected 89.5% of patients with CD and after stimulation with CRH, 100%. The optimal cut-off points in the diagnosis of CD were 2.06 at baseline and 2.49 after CRH stimulation.

CONCLUSION

IPSS with CRH stimulation is a test with a high diagnostic accuracy for correctly classifying patients with CD and ECS. The cut-off points of the gradients may be different from the classic ones. Therefore, we recommend that each center perform its own evaluation.

Ectopic Cushing syndrome caused by a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: A case report

Cushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to a higher than normal level of the hormone cortisol. It is most commonly caused by exogenous glucocorticoids, and less commonly due to endogenous sources. Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is one of the rare causes of endogenous Cushing syndrome engendered by oversecretion of ACTH from a tumor outside of the pituitary or adrenal glands. We present a case of a 74-year-old male with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus who was suspected of having Cushing syndrome on chest CT due to increasing mediastinal lipomatosis and enlarging bilateral adrenal glands. Cushing syndrome was confirmed based on clinical features and biochemical tests. Further investigation revealed an ACTH-producing functional neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas causing ectopic Cushing syndrome.

Malignant Pheochromocytomas/Paragangliomas and Ectopic Hormonal Secretion: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Malignant pheochromocytomas (PCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms defined by the presence of distant metastases. There is currently a relatively paucity of data regarding the natural history of PCs/PGLs and the optimal approach to their treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, biochemical, imaging, genetic and histopathological characteristics of fourteen patients with metastatic PCs/PGLs diagnosed over 15 years, along with their response to treatment. Patients were followed-up for a median of six years (range: 1-14 years). Six patients had synchronous metastases and the remaining developed metastases after a median of four years (range 2-10 years). Genetic analysis of seven patients revealed that three harbored succinate dehydrogenase subunit B/D gene (SDHB/D) mutations. Hormonal hypersecretion occurred in 70% of patients; normetanephrine, either alone or with other concomitant hormones, was the most frequent secretory component. Patients were administered multiple first and subsequent treatments including surgery (n = 12), chemotherapy (n = 7), radionuclide therapy (n = 2) and radiopeptides (n = 5). Seven patients had stable disease, four had progressive disease and three died. Ectopic hormonal secretion is rare and commonly encountered in benign PCs. Ectopic secretion of interleukin-6 in one of our patients, prompted a literature review of ectopic hormonal secretion, particularly from metastatic PCs/PGLs. Only four cases of metastatic PC/PGLs with confirmed ectopic secretion of hormones or peptides have been described so far.