Cushing Syndrome Causes

• Exogenous administration of corticosteroids

• Endogenous (produced by the body) corticosteroid overproduction
  • Adrenal gland tumors: Overproduction of corticosteroid may be due to an adrenal tumor, which could be cancerous or noncancerous.
  • ACTH-producing pituitary tumors: Pituitary tumors produce excess ACTH, which acts on the adrenal gland to produce excess corticosteroid.
  • Some lung tumors or other tumors outside the pituitary gland may produce ACTH, which in turn stimulate the adrenal glands to produce excess corticosteroid.