Ishay A, Touma E, Vornicova O, Dodiuk-Gad R, Goldman T, Bisharat N. Ectopic Cushing's syndrome in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: A case report.
World J Clin Cases 2022;
10:7989-7993. [PMID:
36158508 PMCID:
PMC9372868 DOI:
10.12998/wjcc.v10.i22.7989]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ectopic Cushing syndrome (ECS) is a rare condition commonly associated with neuroendocrine tumors (NET), mainly bronchial carcinoids. The association of paraneoplastic syndrome with Merkle cell carcinoma (MCC) is limited to individual case reports.
CASE SUMMARY
In this article we report an unusual and striking presentation of ECS in a patient with known metastatic MCC. An elderly patient presented with new onset severe hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypokalemia, muscle wasting, and peripheral edema. A diagnosis of adrenocorticotropic hormone dependent, non-pituitary, Cushing syndrome was established. Medical therapy inhibiting adrenal function was promptly started but unfortunately the patient survived only a few days after diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
The occurrence of an aggressive form of ECS in patients with NET should be recognized as an ominous event. To our knowledge, the association of this complication in a patient with MCC had not been reported.
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