Cushing's Syndrome & Cushing's Disease

Many Cushing’s patients endure years of symptoms prior to diagnosis. There are several factors that contribute to the difficulty of a Cushing's diagnosis. First, Cushing's is a rare disorder with an incidence rate of 5 cases per million. In contrast, diabetes is a very common disorder. Many physicians in private practice will never encounter a patient with Cushing's, whereas most will see a number of diabetic patients. Thus, doctors are inclined to diagnose the most common disorder and in most cases, that diagnosis will be correct. The second reason for the difficulty in diagnosis is the minimal amount of training on Cushing's that MD's receive during medical school and their internships. This relates to the fact that Cushing's is a rare disorder. Patient groups, such as yourselves, can be instrumental in increasing the awareness of Cushing's in medical schools and teaching hospitals by sponsoring physician speakers who are experts in Cushing's. A third reason for the difficulty in diagnosis has to do with non-specific symptoms. In other words, the symptoms associated with Cushing's are symptoms that are also associated with more common disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and obesity. There are other rare illnesses that are easier to diagnose simply because the symptoms are more specific.

Cushing's syndrome is diagnosed through a combination of a person's medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Often X-rays of the adrenal or pituitary gland can locate tumors and help determine if excess levels of cortisol are present and why.