J Korean Endocr Soc.  2006 Dec;21(6):556-559.

A Case of Aortic Dissection Associated with Cushing's Syndrome

• Kwak SH
• Lee EJ
• Cho SW
• Choi HJ
• Lee EK
• Cho YM
• Kim SY

Abstract

Herein is reported the case of a 43-year-old woman, who experienced an acute aortic dissection associated with underlying Cushing's syndrome. The patient had central obesity and a moon face of ten years duration, but had never sought medical consultation. On the day of her presentation, she experienced a severe chest pain radiating to her back. Computed tomography revealed a Stanford type B acute aortic dissection and a left adrenal mass. From her hormonal study results, clinical symptoms and signs, she was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome, which was due to a left adrenal adenoma. After medical treatment to stabilize the aortic dissection, she underwent left adrenalectomy. The aortic lesion of the present patient suggests that hypercortisolemia arising from Cushing's syndrome might be related to the development of acute aortic dissection.

Keyword

Aortic dissection; Cushing's syndrome; Hypercortisolemia

MeSH Terms

Adenoma
Adrenalectomy
Adult
Chest Pain
Cushing Syndrome*
Female
Humans
Obesity, Abdominal

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Computed tomographic scans showing a Stanford type B aortic dissection of descending aorta (A), and left adrenal tumor 30 mm in diameter (B).

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  Fig. 2 Histologic findings of left adrenal adenoma. The round cells were relatively uniform in size and shape. They showed less than 1 mitosis per 10 high-power fields and no necrosis. The remaining tissue did not show nodular hyperplasia (H&E stain, ×100).

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