Endocrinología y nutrición : órgano de la Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición
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Endogenous Cushing's syndrome is a very rare entity, with an incidence of 2-4 cases per million inhabitants per year. Cases caused by ectopic ACTH secretion are under-diagnosed. Cushing's disease is the most frequent cause of endogenous Cushing's syndrome, which is 5 or 6 times more frequent than adrenal Cushing's syndrome, with an incidence of between 1.2 and 2.4 cases per million inhabitants per year. ⋯ Both familial and sporadic forms exist: the familial form, or Carney complex, and ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular hyperplasia, in which the size of the adrenal glands is considerably enlarged. The signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome are a direct result of long-term exposure to excessive glucocorticoids. Most signs and symptoms are highly prevalent in the general population (hypertension, central obesity, diabetes mellitus or carbohydrate intolerance, osteoporosis, and characteristic phenotypical alterations).