Korean J Dermatol.  2006 Nov;44(11):1383-1386.

A Case of Androgenetic Alopecia Associated with Cushing's Disease

• Kang IJ
• Cho HR
• Sim WY

Abstract

Cushing's disease is an ACTH-producing pituitary corticotrope adenoma. This pituitary adenoma exhibits an unrestrained ACTH secretion resulting in hypercortisolemia. A 27-year-old female visited us with a 3-year history of diffuse hair loss on the scalp. Her past medical history included recently-developed hypertension and 10 years of increased weight gain and oligomenorrhea. Central obesity, hirsutism, acne, violet striae on the abdomen, lower and upper extremities, and christmas tree-shaped alopecia on the scalp were observed upon physical examination. The secretion of cortisol was not suppressed in both a low and high dose dexamethasone suppression test. A brain MRI detected a pituitary microadenoma in the sella turcica. Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, we diagnosed androgenetic alopecia associated with Cushing's disease. After surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma, the alopecia showed a remarkable improvement. We report a case of Cushing's disease found in a patient with androgenetic alopecia.

Keyword

Androgenetic alopecia; Cushing's disease; Pituitary adenoma

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Acne Vulgaris
Adenoma
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Adult
Alopecia*
Brain
Dexamethasone
Female
Hair
Hirsutism
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypertension
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Obesity, Abdominal
Oligomenorrhea
Physical Examination
Pituitary Neoplasms
Scalp
Sella Turcica
Upper Extremity
Viola
Weight Gain
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Dexamethasone
Hydrocortisone