Cushing's syndrome due to ACTH-production of an ovarian carcinoid

Summary The case of a 56-year old woman with severe Cushing's syndrome due to ovarian ACTH-production is described. Both clinical picture and biochemical pattern were consistent with the ectopic ACTH syndrome. ACTH was found by specific immunohistochemical staining in a carcinoid tumor of the patient's right ovary. In contrast, pituitary cells exhibited immunoreactive ACTH to only a minimum extent.Abbreviations ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone - CT computerized tomography - APUDoma tumor of amine precursor utake and decarboxylation cells