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Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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The features of Cushing's syndrome are best considered in terms of the physiological effects of glucocortiocoids. Many of the prominent features of severe disease - severe obesity, hypertension, hirsutism and diabetes - are found in non-Cushingoid patients. The most valuable discriminatory features are:

  • palpably thin skin with easy bruising and oedema
  • proximal myopathy and weakness - difficulty arising from a squatting position may be striking
  • growth arrest with obesity in children
  • osteoporosis leading to back pain, vertebral collapse, kyphosis, loss of height and rib fractures
  • avascular necrosis of the femoral head

Other features:

  • weight gain and obesity - distribution is around the trunk and abdomen - buffalo hump - and the face - moon face; supraclavicular fat pads; limbs are relatively thin - "orange on a stick"
  • additional skin changes are acne and hirsutism in women, facial plethora and abdominal, breast and thigh striae which are red or purple. Pigmentation suggests elevated ACTH
  • hypertension - with associated cardiovascular complications such as ischaemic heart disease
  • diabetes - polydyspsia, polyuria; nocturia may occur without elevation in blood glucose
  • psychiatric symptoms - depressive psychosis - 20% - to mood lability, insomina and inverted sleep rhythm

Complications associated with elevated cortisol include:

  • infection - fungal skin infection and urinary infection
  • gonadal dysfunction - impotence in males; oligomenorrhoea in females
  • poor wound healing

Weight loss, profound proximal myopathy, pigmentation and hypokalaemic alkalosis suggests ectopic ACTH secretion.


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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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