Cushing's disease occurs in 10 to 15 people per million, according to the University of California at Los Angeles. Cushing's disease occurs when the pituitary gland, a pea-sized endocrine gland responsible for hormone production, produces too much of the hormone known as adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH. ACTH stimulates the production and release of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone primarily responsible for stress fighting and controlling inflammation. In order to treat Cushing's disease, physicians must return the body's cortisol levels to normal by treating the tumor.
Surgery
Tumors on the pituitary or adrenal glands may cause Cushing's disease. The treatment for these tumors often requires surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, a neurosurgeon often performs a pituitary tumor removal. The surgeon will make an incision through the nose and remove the tumor in pieces. Following the operation, patients will be required to take cortisol replacement medications in order to maintain proper cortisol levels.
Radiation Therapy
In situations where it is impossible to remove a pituitary tumor or where patients are too ill for surgery, physicians often prescribe radiation therapy. Physicians prescribe radiation in small doses over a six-week period. The American Cancer Society warns that traditional radiation therapy side effects include fatigue, skin rashes during treatment, mouth and throat problems and possible sexual dysfunction. Physicians may also deliver radiation therapy through a procedure known as stereostatic radiosurgery. Physicians prescribe stereostatic radiosurgery as a single large dose treatment delivered to the tumor, minimizing the exposure of surrounding tissues.
Medications
When surgery and radiation cannot effectively normalize cortisol levels, physicians may choose the medication option. Nizoral is an anti-fungal medication used to treat skin problems but also for Cushing's disease. Side effects can include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions and liver damage, which can be life threatening. Lysodren is a medication used to treat cancer of the adrenal gland and to treat Cushing's disease, and can cause immune system suppression. Side effects of Lysodren can include fever, double vision, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Metopirone is commonly used to diagnose adrenal gland problems related to cortisol production. Side effects of this medication include fever, dizziness, fatigue, skin rash, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
