Cushing’s disease and syndrome: The evolving story of hypercortisolism

How is the emerging knowledge of hypercortisolism influencing how Cushing’s disease and syndrome are understood and affecting the practice and those working on the front lines doing the work and caring for patients?  In this podcast, Michael Evans, Director, Commercial Insights, Learning and Development at Corcept Therapeutics, and Lewis Blevins, M.D., Medical Director of the Californian Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF and Pituitary World News Co-founder consider the timeline and evolution of our understanding of the disease.

Follow this timeline as you listen to this highly educational podcast.

The increase in Cushing’s knowledge in the last 20 years, and more dramatically the last 10 years, has had a significant impact and brings a new set of challenges to suspect and recognize these conditions earlier.

© 2021 – 2024, J D Faccinetti. All rights reserved.

5 thoughts on “Cushing’s disease and syndrome: The evolving story of hypercortisolism

  1. Great podcast. I was undiagnosed for about 15 years in the state of Idaho. My main presenting symptoms were blood spots and bruising. This got worse over the years and am now very scarred. I had osteoporatic fractures in my feet and a blood clot 6 weeks after surgery. I have a huge timeline of events, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I was given my first cortisol urine test which came back at 480. I had multiple other test, then I was referred to a pituitary center and had a confirmed pathology pituitary tumor removed. I never had diabetes and my blood pressure got high only in the last couple years prior to treatment. I had edema in my ankles for years. I went to pain management for 7 years. I had gone to multiple doctors including pcp, internal medicine, wound clinic, orthopedics, 5 dermatologists,hospital events such as chest pain- MI, skin infections, blood clot, etc. I am now going through another possible reoccurrence with some normal and abnormal results with suspected more defined hypodensity the the pituitary region again. I may eventually seek out a second opinion. I enjoy your podcasts. It is my goal to advocate for this disease. I got together with a local endo and we did a presentation on Cushing’s at two residency centers.

  2. Thank you! Dr. Blevins was called in to consult on my case 20+ years ago. Back in the late 1990s, the only info about Cushing’s on the internet was about the disease in horses! It took me 10+ years and visits to most of the Endos in the Atlanta area to get finally get a diagnosis – even though they knew I had a pit tumor! Thank God for Dr. Scott Isaacs, who believed me and knew who to call. #cushingssurvivor

  3. Very interesting. My mother passed back in 1995 from sepsis following multiple strokes. For 15 years her physician believed she had Cushings yet every test at that time came back negative . A year before she passed he attempted to test her one last time and got what he believed then to be a positive result . I am so glad to hear that research has continued and technology has advanced with regard to Cushings. I wish that my mom could have been diagnosed much sooner but happy for those who may no longer have to wait especially considering the possibility that I may have it too. Thanks for all you do. It helps some of us to remain hopeful.

  4. Years ago I developed the ‘Buffalo hump’ on my back and the skirt of protruding, enlarged abdomen. Now I am being ordered to the imaging section of the hospital for an MRI of the growth on my Adrenal and a CT of my stomach. I will then contact an Endocrinologist.

  5. Though I have had many tests, none have seemed to bring us to finding an answer. I have many of the same symptoms listed as in having Cushing Disease. Abnormal growths
    Stomach, chest area, throat, and severe weight gain. Severe pain between shoulder blades, headaches, tired alot. Been to several drs. Each Dr I go to pretty much tell me nothing’s wrong.
    Need to find help NOW.
    385-254-3480

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