Ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by thymus carcinoid / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To increase the awareness of ectopic ACTH syndrome in patients with thymus carcinoid. Methods Clinical manifestations, especially atypical presentation of ectopic ACTH syndrome, laboratory findings and imaging data (chest X-ray and CT, etc.) in 6 patients were analysed. Results In all 6 patients, the thymus tumors removed were pathologically proved to be thymus carcinoid. Conclusion Patients having typical manifestations of Cushing′s syndrome with hypokalemia, edema, proteinuria and equivocal result of dexamethasone inhibition test, should be considered as ACTH syndrome. And thymus carcinoid seems to be the cause of the disease.