We may ask you to switch to a different type of birth control during testing.įor some patients, surgery isn’t an option or doesn’t fully solve the problem. Your doctor will also ask about use of birth control pills. Trace possible causes: Your doctor will ask you if you use or have recently used steroid medications, creams or inhalers that contain hydrocortisone, prednisone or dexamethasone.ACTH-independent: Caused by overactive adrenal glands or an adrenal tumor.ACTH dependent: Caused by a pituitary tumor or, rarely, a tumor in another part of the body.Find the source of the extra hormones: We’ll do tests to see if your disease is:.We first need to confirm whether symptoms are linked to elevated ACTH and cortisol. Rule out other disorders: Your symptoms may be related to another condition.Because we’ve treated hundreds of patients with Cushing disease or syndrome, we have the skills to give you the right diagnosis so you can begin treatment. It’s not uncommon for us to see patients who have gone undiagnosed or who have been misdiagnosed for years. Cushing disease/syndrome can be challenging to diagnose because changes can happen slowly.
