How is Cushings diagnosed?
Most people who appear to have some of the classic physical features of Cushing’s Syndrome (cushingoid appearance) do not actually have the disease. After iatrogenic Cushing’s is excluded, other causes of this appearance cn be polycystic ovary syndrome (androgen excess from the ovaries), ovarian tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ordinary obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, or just a family tendency to have a round face and abdomen with high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Because Cushing’s Syndrome is a rare but serious disorder, it is very important to carefully exclude (rule out) other disorders and then separate the different types, leading eventually to a specific cause that can be treated. This process of testing and excluding usually takes days to weeks and requires a lot of patience and cooperation by the person being tested. After the initial history, physical exam and routine blood tests, the first step is to prove cortisol excess with specific blood and 24 hour
