[Follow-up of Cushing syndrome in western Sweden. More than one treatment method needed for cure, hormonal deficiencies common].

Results from a follow-up of all patients with Cushing's syndrome who visited the Division of Endocrinology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden, during 1997-1998 revealed 28 patients with ACTH-dependent disease and 3 with ACTH-independent disease. Female/male ratio was 4:1 with mean age at diagnosis 30 years. Mean time from first symptoms to diagnosis was three years (range 0-8). The most frequent signs were hypertrichosis, easy bruising, hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus. Out of the 28 patients with ACTH-dependent disease, 16 underwent more than one treatment method (transcranial/transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, pituitary irradiation, adrenalectomy), 26 were cured and 25 developed hormonal deficiencies after treatment. Five of the 11 patients who underwent adrenalectomy developed Nelson tumors. All patients in the ACTH-independent group were cured after unilateral adrenalectomy.