Cushing’s syndrome (CS) due to ectopic ACTH secretion has a high morbidity and mortality. Thus, rapid treatment of ectopic CS is mandatory. Carcinoid tumors associated with ectopic ACTH (CTu-ACTH) syndrome represent a more severe clinical picture, due to the carcinoid symptoms that worsen the hypercortisolism state. Management of patients with CTu-ACTH should include the control of hypercortisolism, as well as the carcinoid disturbance. We report 3 patients (2F, 1M) with CTu-ACTH (2 pancreatic, 1 ocult) who presented with clinical manifestations of CS (n= 3) and carcinoid syndrome (2): 2 were initialy investigated for CS and 1 carcinoid syndrome. In all hypokalemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were associated with severe hypercortisolism and high ACTH levels. Administration of octreotide-LAR reduced ACTH levels from 230,000 to 30,000pg/ml in patient 1, and controlled symptoms of carcinoid syndrome and neoplasic lesions in patient 2; treatment with subcutaneous octreotide in patient 3 controlled carcinoid syndrome and partially reduced symptoms of hypercortisolism. All 3 patients were submitted to bilateral adrenalectomy to control CS. Our data show that combined anti-neoplastic therapy may contribute to the stabilization and/or definitive control of CTu-ACTH.
Carcinoid tumors; Ectopic ACTH syndrome; Octreotide; Cushing’s syndrome; Adrenalectomy
