Cushingoid: A term referring to the cluster of symptoms and signs resulting from an excess of hormones.Although a round face and weight gain are characteristic of the condition's appearance, Cushing syndrome is a highly intricate hormonal disorder impacting various body systems. Typical symptoms include skin thinning, muscle weakness, weight increase, easy bruising, fragile bones (osteoporosis), facial swelling, and, in women, the cessation of menstrual cycles.A common cause of Cushing syndrome is the use of "cortisol-like medications" to treat a range of illnesses. Other instances arise from the excessive production of cortisol by the body, such as:- An abnormal growth in the pituitary gland, which can prompt the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.- A tumor or abnormal growth within the adrenal glands themselves, leading to cortisol production.- A hormone originating from another part of the body (ectopic production) that directly or indirectly causes the adrenal glands to increase cortisol output.Neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing (1869-1939) identified the overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands as being specifically due to an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, a benign tumor that releases AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone (ACTH) and stimulates the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol.
