cushing's syndrome

Cushing's syndrome   n.  A syndrome caused by an increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the adrenal cortex or of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, or by excessive intake of glucocorticoids. It is characterized by obesity and weakening of the muscles. [After Harvey Williams Cushing.]

Main Entry: Cush·ing's disease
Pronunciation: "kush-i[ng]z-
Function: noun
: Cushing's syndrome especially when caused by excessive production of ACTHby the pituitary gland
Cusháing /'kush-i[ng],/ Harvey Williams (1869–1939), American neurosurgeon. Cushing first gained a reputation by publishing an importantwork on the pituitary gland in 1912. In 1930 he gave the first description of the condition named in his honor. Throughout his career he wrote numerous monographs on the surgery of the brain and workedon the classification of brain tumors. He also contributed to studies of blood pressure in surgery and developed the method of operating with local anesthesia.

Cushing's syndrome Cush·ing's syndrome (k&oobreve;sh'ĭngz)
n.
A syndrome caused by an increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the adrenal cortex or of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It is characterized by obesity and weakening of the muscles. Also called Cushing's basophilism, pituitary basophilism.

Cushing's syndrome   (ksh'ĭngz)  Pronunciation Key  A syndrome caused by an excess of corticosteroids, especially cortisol, in the blood, characterized by obesity, muscle and skin atrophy, facial fullness (known as moon facies), hypertension, and other physical changes. Glucocorticoid excess is usually caused by a tumor of the adrenal cortex, excessive intake of ACTH or glucocorticoids, or increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Cushing's syndrome is named after its discoverer, American neurosurgeon Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939).