Cushing's syndrome (CS) may lead to severe maternal and fetal morbidities and even mortalities in pregnancy.
However, pregnancy complicates the diagnosis and treatment of CS. This study describes a 26-year-old pregnant woman admitted with hypertension-induced headache. Hormonal analyses performed due to her cushingoid phenotype revealed a diagnosis of adrenocorticotropic hormone- (ACTH-) independent CS. MRI showed a 3.5 cm adenoma in her right adrenal gland. After preoperative metyrapone therapy, she underwent a successful unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy at 14-week gestation. Although she had a temporary postoperative adrenal insufficiency, hormonal analyses showed that she has been in remission since delivery. Findings in this patient, as well as those in previous patients, indicate that pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication for laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Rather, such surgery should be considered a safe and efficient treatment method for pregnant women with cortisol-secreting adrenal adenomas.
Written by:
Diri H, Bayram F, Simsek Y, Ozkan Y, Akcan A, Karahan I, Ileri I, Aribas S, Koc MS. Are you the author?
Division of Endocrinology, Erciyes University Medical School, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Division of Endocrinology, Firat University Medical School, 23000 Elazığ, Turkey; Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University Medical School, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Department of Radiology, Erciyes University Medical School, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Department of Internal Diseases, Erciyes University Medical School, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey.
Reference: Case Rep Endocrinol. 2014;2014:283458.
doi: 10.1155/2014/283458
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25544906