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Carcinoid tumor of the thymus associated with Cushing′s syndrome and dysgeusia: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

A 30-year-old man was hospitalized with edema, polyuria, and abnormalities in taste. ACTH and cortisol levels at admission were markedly elevated, even after attempted suppression with 8 mg dexamethasone. A thoracic–abdominal CT revealed an anterior mediastinal lesion and hyperplasia of both adrenal glands. After excision of the mediastinal mass, which confirmed the presence of a carcinoid thymic tumor, the patient became totally asymptomatic, with normal ACTH and cortisol levels. A carcinoid thymic tumor has a poor prognosis, especially when it is associated with Cushing’s syndrome. Most patients will present recidivism or metastasis within 5 years after surgery. However, the low number of cases available for analysis makes it difficult to establish optimum therapeutic approaches.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Elaine Lilly, Ph.D., for review of the English version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Passeig Marítim 25–29, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Cristina Claret, Juan J. Chillarón, Juana A. Flores, David Benaiges, Alberto Goday & Juan F. Cano-Pérez

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Rafael Aguiló

  3. Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Mar García

  4. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Guadalupe Aguilar

  5. Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Cristina Claret, Juan J. Chillarón, Juana A. Flores, David Benaiges, Alberto Goday & Juan F. Cano-Pérez

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  1. Cristina Claret
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Correspondence to Juan J. Chillarón.

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Claret, C., Chillarón, J.J., Flores, J.A. et al. Carcinoid tumor of the thymus associated with Cushing′s syndrome and dysgeusia: case report and review of the literature. Endocr 37, 1–5 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-009-9249-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-009-9249-0

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