27th May 2025

Background

Cushing’s syndrome arises from long-term exposure to excessive glucocorticoids of either endogenous or exogenous source. Exogenous steroids are the most common cause, and this should be excluded first. The presentation can be subtle, but presents with central obesity, proximal muscle weakness, dorsal and supraclavicular fat pads, abdominal violaceous striae, bruising and moon facies. Metabolic syndrome can arise from Cushing’s disease, as well as metabolic bone disease and hypertension.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (2015). Cuching’s Syndrome (Vector image), Licensed under a creative commons licence. Available for free at: https//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cushing%27s_syndrome_(vector_image).svg (Accessed 13 May 2025).

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons (2012). Cushing’s Body, Licensed under a creative commons licence. Available for free at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing%27s_syndrome#/media/File:CushingsBody.jpg  (Accessed 13 May 2025).