A 66-year-old woman had massive bilateral adrenal macronodular
hyperplasia, found incidentally on an abdominal ultrasonogram. Her plasma
ACTH and serum
cortisol levels were normal, but they were not suppressed by low-dose
dexamethasone. The patient did not exhibit any typical signs or symptoms of
Cushing's disease. MRI showed no evidence of a
tumor in the pituitary gland. A diagnosis of preclinical
Cushing's disease was made, and she was treated with 11-hydroxylase inhibitor
metyrapone. As the dose of
metyrapone was increased, plasma
ACTH levels gradually increased. After three years of treatment, she developed moon-face. Her plasma
ACTH and serum
cortisol concentrations were at their highest levels. A pituitary microadenoma was detected by MRI, whose source of
ACTH was demonstrated by the definite step-up of central/peripheral ratio of
ACTH obtained by cavernous sinus sampling. Overt
Cushing's disease was diagnosed, and a
pituitary tumor was removed by transsphenoidal surgery. In conclusion, the clinically and endocrinologically overt
Cushing's disease characterized by macronodular adrenal
hyperplasia was converted from a preclinical form. This case offers some insight into the clinical and
biological features of preclinical
Cushing's disease.