Table 1. Overlapping Conditions and Clinical Features of
Cushing's Syndrome
a
Symptoms Signs Overlapping conditions
Cushing's syndrome features in the general population that are common and/or less
discriminatory
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Back pain
• Changes in appetite
• Decreased concentration
• Decreased libido
• Impaired memory
(especially short term)
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Dorsocervical fat pad
("buffalo hump")
• Facial fullness
• Obesity
• Supraclavicular fullness
• Thin skin
b
• Peripheral edema
• Acne
• Hirsutism or female
balding
• Poor skin healing
• Hypertension
b
• Incidental adrenal mass
• Vertebral osteoporosis
b
• Polycystic ovary
syndrome
• Type 2 diabetes
b
• Hypokalemia
• Kidney stones
• Unusual infections
• In children, slow growth • In children, abnormal
genital virilization
• In children, short stature
• In children,
pseudoprecocious puberty
or delayed puberty
Features that best discriminate Cushing's syndrome; most do not have a high sensitivity
• Easy bruising
• Facial plethora
• Proximal myopathy
(or proximal muscle
weakness)
• Striae (especially if
reddish purple and >1
cm wide)
• In children, weight gain
with decreasing growth
velocity
a
Features are listed in random order.
b
Cushing's syndrome is more likely if onset of the feature is at a younger age.
