Emergencia hipertensiva como debut de síndrome de Cushing paraneoplásico / Hypertensive Emergency as the Debut of Paraneoplastic Cushing Syndrome

Presentamos el caso de un paciente con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial vasculorrenal tratada un año antes, que acude a urgencias por emergencia hipertensiva (HTA) y disnea. Descartada primera sospecha de reestenosis de arteria renal con angiografía por tomografía computarizada (angioTC), se completa el estudio confirmándose diagnóstico de cáncer de pulmón mediante prueba de imagen y anatomía patológica. En el estudio de hipertensión se detecta elevación de hormona adrenocorticótropa (ACTH), hipercortisolismo y datos analíticos de hiperaldosteronismo. Con el diagnóstico final de síndrome de Cushing secundario a producción ectópica de ACTH se inicia tratamiento médico, sin llegar a recibir nada más por fallecimiento del paciente a los pocos días.(AU)

We present the case of a patient with a history of renal-vascular hypertension treated with stent one year previously, who attended the emergency room due to hypertensive emergency and dyspnea. Once the first suspicion of renal artery restenosis was ruled out with CT angiography, the study was completed, confirming the diagnosis of lung cancer through imaging and pathological anatomy. In the hormonal study, elevation of ACTH, hypercortisolism and analytical data of hyperaldosteronism were detected. With the final diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome secondary to ectopic production of ACTH, medical treatment was started, without being able to receive anything else due to the death of the patient after a few days.(AU)

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary aldosteronism associated with subclinical Cushing syndrome].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) associated with subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China. Patients with PA were included between January 2014 and December 2022. According to the results of 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test, the patients were divided into the PA group and PA associated with SCS (PA/SCS) group. The demographic information, hormone levels, and follow-up results were analyzed. Independent sample t-test, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data comparison. Results: A total of 489 PA patients were enrolled in this study, of which 109 had PA/SCS (22.3%). Patients with SCS were on average older (54.4±10.7 vs. 47.4±11.0, P<0.001); had a larger proportion of women (69.7%, 76/109 vs. 57.4%, 218/380; P=0.020); and a longer duration of hypertension [96 (36, 180) vs. 60 (12, 120) months, P=0.001] than patients without SCS. There were 215 and 51 patients in the PA group and PA/SCS group, who completed adrenalectomy and follow-up, respectively. The remission rate of autonomous cortisol secretion in the PA/SCS group was 85.3% (29/34). There was no significant difference in the remission rate of autonomous aldosterone secretion among patients between the PA/SCS and PA group (94.1%, 48/51 vs. 94.4%, 203/215; P=1.000), while the clinical remission rate in the PA/SCS group was lower than that in the PA group (39.2%, 20/51 vs. 61.9%, 133/215; P=0.003). Conclusions: SCS is common in PA patients (22.3%), and the clinical remission rate is low. Screening using the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test is recommended for all patients with PA.

The diagnostic yield of inferior petrosal sinus sampling in Cushing syndrome in the era of ovine CRH shortage.

PURPOSE: The ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (oCRH) stimulation test has been routinely used in the diagnostic work-up of ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome (CS). With oCRH currently being out-of-stock in Europe, we aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) without oCRH stimulation. METHODS: We compared the values of 40 patients with ACTH-dependent CS and negative MRI findings in whom ACTH was measured before and after oCRH stimulation. RESULTS: The ratio of central-to-peripheral ACTH measurement (IPS:P) before the combined 3, 5, and 10 min of oCRH stimulation yielded diminished sensitivity (85% vs. 97%), alongside markedly decreased specificity (57% vs. 71%), as well as reduced positive and negative predictive values (90% vs. 94% and 44% vs. 83%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With the current drug shortages in Europe, ACTH measurements without oCRH stimulation in IPSS cannot be recommended. Thus, we call for desmopressin or the commercially available human CRH as a potential alternative in the confirmation of ACTH excess by IPSS in equivocal MRI findings.

Association of adrenal steroids with metabolomic profiles in patients with primary and endocrine hypertension.

Introduction: Endocrine hypertension (EHT) due to pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL), Cushing's syndrome (CS), or primary aldosteronism (PA) is linked to a variety of metabolic alterations and comorbidities. Accordingly, patients with EHT and primary hypertension (PHT) are characterized by distinct metabolic profiles. However, it remains unclear whether the metabolomic differences relate solely to the disease-defining hormonal parameters. Therefore, our objective was to study the association of disease defining hormonal excess and concomitant adrenal steroids with metabolomic alterations in patients with EHT. Methods: Retrospective European multicenter study of 263 patients (mean age 49 years, 50% females; 58 PHT, 69 PPGL, 37 CS, 99 PA) in whom targeted metabolomic and adrenal steroid profiling was available. The association of 13 adrenal steroids with differences in 79 metabolites between PPGL, CS, PA and PHT was examined after correction for age, sex, BMI, and presence of diabetes mellitus. Results: After adjustment for BMI and diabetes mellitus significant association between adrenal steroids and metabolites - 18 in PPGL, 15 in CS, and 23 in PA - were revealed. In PPGL, the majority of metabolite associations were linked to catecholamine excess, whereas in PA, only one metabolite was associated with aldosterone. In contrast, cortisone (16 metabolites), cortisol (6 metabolites), and DHEA (8 metabolites) had the highest number of associated metabolites in PA. In CS, 18-hydroxycortisol significantly influenced 5 metabolites, cortisol affected 4, and cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, and DHEA each were linked to 3 metabolites. Discussions: Our study indicates cortisol, cortisone, and catecholamine excess are significantly associated with metabolomic variances in EHT versus PHT patients. Notably, catecholamine excess is key to PPGL's metabolomic changes, whereas in PA, other non-defining adrenal steroids mainly account for metabolomic differences. In CS, cortisol, alongside other non-defining adrenal hormones, contributes to these differences, suggesting that metabolic disorders and cardiovascular morbidity in these conditions could also be affected by various adrenal steroids.

Drug development and potential targets for Cushing's syndrome.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a complex disorder characterized by the excessive secretion of cortisol, with Cushing's disease (CD), particularly associated with pituitary tumors, exhibiting heightened morbidity and mortality. Although transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) stands as the primary treatment for CD, there is a crucial need to optimize patient prognosis. Current medical therapy serves as an adjunctive measure due to its unsatisfactory efficacy and unpredictable side effects. In this comprehensive review, we delve into recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of CS and explore therapeutic options by conducting a critical analysis of potential drug targets and candidates. Additionally, we provide an overview of the design strategy employed in previously reported candidates, along with a summary of structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses and their biological efficacy. This review aims to contribute valuable insights to the evolving landscape of CS research, shedding light on potential avenues for therapeutic development.

Double pituitary adenomas: report of two cases and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Double pituitary adenomas (DPA) are a rare clinical condition, and our knowledge of them is limited. Missing the second lesion leading to incomplete biochemical remission after surgery is an important challenge in DPA management. This study aims to analyze independent prognostic factors in DPA patients and summarize clinical experiences to prevent surgical failure. Methods: Two cases of DPA patients with Cushing's disease diagnosed and surgically treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital are reported. A literature review was performed on the online database Pubmed, and 57 DPA patients from 22 retrieved articles were included. Demographic characteristics, endocrine manifestations, diagnostic methods, tumor size, and immunohistochemical features of 59 patients were analyzed. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent prognostic factors affecting postoperative biochemical remission. Results: Among 59 DPA patients, the mean ± SD age was 43.64 ± 14.42 years, with 61.02% being female (n = 36). The most common endocrine manifestations were Cushing's syndrome (23/59, 38.98%) and acromegaly (20/59, 33.90%). The most prevalent immunohistochemical types were ACTH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) and GH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) tumors. Microadenomas (<1cm) were the most frequent in terms of tumor size (62/92, 67.39%). The detection rate for double lesions on 3.0T MRI was 50.00% (14/28), which significantly higher than 1.5T MRI (P = 0.034). Univariate analysis revealed that female, Cushing's syndrome and only single lesion detected by surgical exploration were associated with significantly worse prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified double lesion detected by surgical exploration (OR = 0.08, P = 0.003) and contiguous type tumor (OR = 0.06, P = 0.017) as independent protective factors for DPA patients. Conclusions: The double lesion detected by surgical exploration is independently associated with a better prognosis for DPA patients. Comprehensive intraoperative exploration are crucial measures to avoid missing causative lesions.

The risk of COVID-19 in Cushing's disease is independently related to disease activity (hypercortisolism) and obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the cumulative incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with Cushing's disease (CD). Subjects and methods: In all, 60 patients with CD following up in our outpatient clinic answered via phone interview a questionnaire about the occurrence of COVID-19 infection documented by RT-PCR (including the diagnosis date and clinical outcome) and vaccination status. Clinical and biochemical data on disease activity (hypercortisolism) and comorbidities (obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) were obtained from the patients' electronic medical records. Risk ratios (RRs) of risk factors were obtained using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in patients with CD during the observation period was 31.7%, which was higher than that in the general reference population (9.5%). The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was significantly higher in patients with hypercortisolism (57% versus 17% in those without hypercortisolism, p = 0.012) and obesity (54% versus 9% in those without obesity, p < 0.001) but not in patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus. On multivariate analysis, hypercortisolism and obesity were each independent risk factors for COVID-19 (RR 2.18, 95% CI 1.06-4.46, p = 0.033 and RR 5.19, 95% CI 1.61-16.74, p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19 in patients with CD was associated with hypercortisolism, as expected, and obesity, a novel and unexpected finding. Thus, correction of hypercortisolism and obesity should be implemented in patients with CD during the current and future COVID-19 outbreaks.

Long-term outcome of retroperitoneoscopic partial versus total adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We analyze the long-term outcome of surgery for Cushing's syndrome (CS) and the influence of the extent of surgical resection on the duration of postoperative cortisone substitution. METHODS: One-hundred forty-one patients (129 female, 12 males; mean age: 45.7 ± 12.8 years) operated between January 2000 to June 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients suffered from manifest (124) or subclinical (17) CS due to benign unilateral adrenal neoplasia. All tumors were removed by the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. 105 patients had total (TA) and 36 partial (PA) adrenalectomies. All patients were discharged with ongoing corticosteroid supplementation therapy. RESULTS: Follow-up data could be obtained for 83 patients. Twenty-four (1 male, 23 females; mean age 42.3 years) underwent PA and 59 TA (6 males, 53 females; mean age 44.6 years). Mean follow-up time was 107 ± 68 months (range: 6-243 months). The median duration of postoperative corticosteroid therapy was 9.5 months after PA and 11 months after TA (p = 0.1). Significantly, more patients after total adrenalectomy required corticosteroid therapy for more than 24 months (25% vs. 4%; p = 0.03). Recurrent ipsilateral disease occurred in one case after partial adrenalectomy and was treated by completion adrenalectomy. A case of contralateral recurrence associated with subclinical Cushing's syndrome was observed after total adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of local recurrence after partial adrenalectomy in CS is low. Cortical-sparing surgery may shorten corticosteroid supplementation therapy after surgery.

Risk factors for postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy focusing on hormones produced: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is widely performed for a number of hormone-producing tumors and postoperative management depends on the hormones produced. In the present study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to clarify the risk factors for postoperative complications, particularly postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. METHODS: We analyzed 406 patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at our hospital between 2003 and 2019. Postoperative fever was defined as a fever of 38 °C or higher within 72 h after surgery. We investigated the risk factors for postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy. RESULTS: There were 188 males (46%) and 218 females (54%) with a median age of 52 years. Among these patients, tumor pathologies included 188 primary aldosteronism (46%), 75 Cushing syndrome (18%), and 80 pheochromocytoma (20%). Postoperative fever developed in 124 of all patients (31%), 30% of those with primary aldosteronism, 53% of those with pheochromocytoma, and 8% of those with Cushing syndrome. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified pheochromocytoma and non-Cushing syndrome as independent predictors of postoperative fever. Postoperative fever was observed in 42 out of 80 cases of pheochromocytoma (53%), which was significantly higher than in cases of non-pheochromocytoma (82/326, 25%, p < 0.01). In contrast, postoperative fever developed in 6 out of 75 cases of Cushing syndrome (8%), which was significantly lower than in cases of non-Cushing syndrome (118/331, 35.6%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Since postoperative fever after laparoscopic adrenalectomy is markedly affected by the hormone produced by pheochromocytoma and Cushing syndrome, it is important to carefully consider the need for treatment.

Emergence of De Novo Conditions Following Remission of Cushing Syndrome: A Case Report and Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: Onset and exacerbation of autoimmune, inflammatory or steroid-responsive conditions have been reported following the remission of Cushing syndrome, leading to challenges in distinguishing a new condition versus expected symptomatology following remission. We describe a case of a 42-year-old man presenting with new-onset sarcoidosis diagnosed 12 months following the surgical cure of Cushing syndrome and synthesise existing literature reporting on de novo conditions presenting after Cushing syndrome remission. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted in Medline, Epub, Ovid and PubMed. Case reports and case series detailing adult patients presenting with new-onset conditions following Cushing syndrome remission were included. RESULTS: In total, 1641 articles were screened, 138 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility, and 43 studies were included, of which 84 cases (including our case) were identified. Most patients were female (85.7%), and the median reported age was 39.5 years old (IQR = 13). Thyroid diseases were the most commonly reported conditions (48.8%), followed by sarcoidosis (15.5%). Psoriasis, lymphocytic hypophysitis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and seronegative arthritis were reported in more than one case. The median duration between Cushing remission and de novo condition diagnosis was 4.1 months (IQR = 3.75). Of those patients, 59.5% were receiving corticosteroid therapy at the time of onset. CONCLUSION: Our scoping review identified several cases of de novo conditions emerging following the remission of Cushing syndrome. They occurred mostly in women and within the year following remission. Clinicians should remain aware that new symptoms, particularly in the first year following the treatment of Cushing syndrome, may be manifestations of a wide range of conditions aside from adrenal insufficiency or glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome.

Prevalence of endocrine disorders in 304 premenopausal women referred with oligomenorrhoea.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate 304 premenopausal women admitted to our clinic for oligomenorrhoea, and to screen for Cushing's syndrome (CS) in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 304 premenopausal women referred to our clinic for oligomenorrhoea. Anthropometric measurements and Ferriman-Gallwey score were evaluated, and thyroid hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels were measured in all patients. If basal 17-OHP was > 2 ng/mL, we evaluated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated 17-OHP levels. CS was screened by 1 mg-dexamethasone suppression test, and if the cortisol value was > 1.8 µg/dL, we performed additional confirmatory tests, and if necessary, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) were performed. RESULTS: The most common cause of oligomenorrhoea was polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that was detected in 81.57% of cases, followed by hyperprolactinemia at 7.23% and hypothalamic anovulation at 5.26%. The prevalence of premature ovarian failure (POF) was 1.6%, and non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) was 1.97%. CS was detected in 7 (2.30%) patients. All the patients with CS were found to have Cushing's disease (CD). Although 3 patients with CD had classical signs and symptoms, 4 had none. Patients with CD had similar total testosterone values to those in the PCOS and NCAH groups, but they had significantly higher DHEA-S compared to both groups (CD vs. PCOS, p = 0.001 and CD vs. NCAH, p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: We found higher prevalence of CS in patients with oligomenorrhoea even in the absence of clinical signs. Therefore, we suggest routine screening for CS during the evaluation of patients with oligomenorrhoea and/or PCOS. The likelihood of CS is greater in patients with high androgen, especially DHEA-S levels.

Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy - two case reports.

Background: Cushing's syndrome (CS) during pregnancy is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by hypercortisolism, which is significantly associated with maternal-fetal complications. Despite its rarity, CS during pregnancy may be related to a high risk of complications for both the mother and fetus.The aim of the present case study is to update the diagnostic approach to CS during pregnancy and the therapeutic strategies for this medical condition to minimize maternal-fetal complications. Methods: Here, we present two cases of CS in pregnant women, one of whom had twins. Typical clinical symptoms and signs of hypercortisolism developed at the beginning of pregnancy. The plasma cortisol diurnal rhythm of the pregnant patient was absent. CS was confirmed by cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) assessment, as well as imaging examination. We investigated the changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during normal pregnancy and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of CS during pregnancy. Conclusion: Due to the associated risks of laparoscopic adrenalectomy,it is uncertain whether this treatment significantly decreases overall maternal mortality. Additional observational research and validation through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are required. We advise that CS in pregnant women be diagnosed and treated by experienced teams in relevant departments and medical centers.

The thrombotic risk in Cushing's syndrome-questions, answers, and the algorithm to consider in its assessment: part I-thrombotic risk not related to surgery.

Introduction: Recently, it has been reported that there is a great diversity in strategies used for thromboprophylaxis in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). An aim of this review was to discuss these practices in light of the existing data on the thrombotic risk in patients with CS and guidelines for medically ill patients. Methods: The four relevant topics and questions on thrombotic risk in CS were identified. The current guidelines on prevention and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) were reviewed for the answers. An algorithm to consider in the assessment of the thrombotic risk in patients with CS was proposed. Results: To address both generic and CS-specific risk factors for VTE, the algorithm includes the stepwise approach consisting of Padua Score, urine free cortisol, and CS-VTE score, with no indication for routine thrombophilia testing in the prediction of an index VTE episode. Having confirmed VTE, selected patients require thrombophilia testing to aid the duration of anticoagulant treatment. The separate part of the algorithm is devoted to patients with ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome in whom exclusion of VTE precedes introducing routine thromboprophylaxis to prevent VTE. The cancer-related VTE also prompts thromboprophylaxis, with the possible vessel invasion. The algorithm presents a unifactorial and multifactorial approach to exclude high-bleeding risks and safely introduce thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin. Summary: Our article is the first to present an algorithm to consider in the thrombotic risk assessment among patients with Cushing's syndrome as a starting point for a broader discussion in the environment. A plethora of factors affect the VTE risk in patients with CS, but no studies have conclusively evaluated the best thromboprophylaxis strategy so far. Future studies are needed to set standards of care.

[Functional hypercortisolism in mental disorder - association with psychopathological manifestations and course of the disease]. / Funktsional'nyi giperkortitsizm pri psikhicheskom rasstroistve ­ assotsiatsiya s psikhopatologicheskimi proyavleniyami i techeniem zabolevaniya.

The article presents a case of a long-term mental disorder in a 35-year-old woman with a persistent laboratory-confirmed increase in cortisol levels, without clinical manifestations of hypercortisolism. The first signs of mental illness appeared at the age of 14; over the past 8 years, the disease has been continuous and manifests itself in the form of a predominantly depressive state with increasing severity and complication of symptoms. Throughout all the years of the disease, active psychopharmacotherapy was carried out, combinations of antidepressants with antipsychotics and mood stabilizers were used, but no pronounced effect was achieved. Inpatient treatment in the clinic of the Mental Health Research Center for 5 months using several methods of enhancing antidepressant therapy had a good therapeutic effect and made it possible to achieve complete remission of the disease. There was a normalization of laboratory parameters of cortisol along with a decrease in the severity of pathopsychological symptoms, which indicates the genesis of hypercortisolism secondary to mental illness and its functional nature. It is assumed that hypercortisolism in this patient contributed to the formation of atypical clinical symptoms and resistance to antidepressant therapy. The discussion substantiates the need to consult a psychiatrist in case of persistent hypercortisolism in the absence of clinical manifestations of Cushing's syndrome. The detection of persistent hypercortisolism in patients with depression determines the advisability of active therapy using several tactics to enhance the effect of antidepressants.

What Is Cushing Syndrome?

This JAMA Patient Page describes Cushing syndrome and its signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Familial bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia due to a novel ARMC 5 germline mutation: Clinical status and possible association with other neoplasms.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Mutations in the ARMC5 (armadillo repeat containing 5, OMIM 615549) gene, a putative tumor suppressor gene, have recently been identified as a common cause of sporadic and familial bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (BMAH). Familial BMAH is thought to be caused by two mutations, one germline and the other somatic, as suggested by the 2-hit theory. The objective is to describe a new mutation and develop its clinical characteristics and implications. METHODS, RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We present an affected family with 11 members carrying a novel mutation of the ARMC5 gene (NM_001288767.1): c.2162T>C p. (Leu721Pro). Two of the carriers developed clinical Cushing's syndrome (CS), two mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) and one presented with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS). Four patients developed other tumors, three of whom died from this cause. It is not known whether these tumors could be related to the described mutation.

[Hypertensive Emergency as the Debut of Paraneoplastic Cushing Syndrome]. / Emergencia hipertensiva como debut de síndrome de Cushing paraneoplásico.

We present the case of a patient with a history of renal-vascular hypertension treated with stent one year previously, who attended the emergency room due to hypertensive emergency and dyspnea. Once the first suspicion of renal artery restenosis was ruled out with CT angiography, the study was completed, confirming the diagnosis of lung cancer through imaging and pathological anatomy. In the hormonal study, elevation of ACTH, hypercortisolism and analytical data of hyperaldosteronism were detected. With the final diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome secondary to ectopic production of ACTH, medical treatment was started, without being able to receive anything else due to the death of the patient after a few days.

A challenging case of ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome due to medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Not required for Clinical Vignette.

Cushing's syndrome diagnosed incidentally on CT imaging.

In this case report, we describe an uncommon presentation of Cushing's syndrome in a patient in their 60s who presented to the emergency department with left-sided chest pain. The initial workup for the patient was unremarkable except for an elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting plasma glucose. A CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis was performed, demonstrating a splenic artery thrombus with multiple splenic infarcts, in addition to a combination of macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, bilateral gynecomastia, centripetal fat distribution and suspected mild bone demineralisation. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, a rare aetiology responsible for Cushing's syndrome, was raised as a potential unifying diagnosis for the patient's hypercoagulable status, which was subsequently confirmed on an endocrinological investigation. The case report underscores the importance of communicating clinically relevant details to the imaging specialist in combination with considering a broad differential, including endocrine disorders, when evaluating an undifferentiated patient with atypical imaging findings.