What causes Cushing's Syndrome?

Prolonged or excess exposure to cortisol as a result of:

• Long-term use of corticosteroid hormones such as cortisone or prednisone
• Tumor or abnormality of the adrenal gland, which causes the body to produce excess cortisol
• Tumor or abnormality of the pituitary gland, which causes the body to produce excess cortisol (in the case of a pituitary tumor it is called Cushing's disease)
• Rarely, tumors of the lungs, thyroid, kidney, pancreas, or thymus gland produce hormones that trigger the syndrome

Pituitary and Adrenal Glands

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