Pheochromocytoma is a rare cause of Cushing’s syndrome (<0.5% of cases) due to ectopic ACTH secretion. This condition proves very challenging regarding both diagnosis and treatment. Our case report illustrates the necessity of a thorough endocrinological investigation for all adrenal incidentalomas, particularly in the presence of clinical symptoms indicative of excessive hormonal secretion. We also show that Cushing’s syndrome secondary to ectopic ACTH secretion displays some typical characteristics as compared to the more common pituitary Cushing’s disease. Furthermore, we conducted a literature review regarding Cushing’s syndrome due to ectopic ACTH secretion from pheochromocytomas.
Key Words
Pheochromocytoma, Cushing’s syndrome, ectopic ACTH secretion