What are Cushing syndrome and Cushing disease?

What are Cushing syndrome and Cushing disease?

Cushing syndrome is caused by excessive cortisol levels. The most common etiology is iatrogenic secondary to excessive steroid administration. The most common non-iatrogenic cause is bilateral adrenal hyperplasia due to excessive pituitary or ectopic ACTH secretion. The term Cushing disease is reserved for patients with pituitary tumors causing excessive ACTH secretion.

The most notable features of Cushing syndrome are truncal obesity, hirsutism, weakness, hypertension, abdominal striae, edema, and hyperglycemia.