A Case of Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Syndrome in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which originated from neuroendocrine tissue, can develop into paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes, such as Cushing syndrome, because of an inappropriate secretion of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This paraneoplastic syndrome is known to be a poor prognosti...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases 2015, 78(4), 363, pp.436-439
Main Authors: Jeong, Chaiho, Lee, Jinhee, Ryu, Seongyul, Lee, Hwa Young, Shin, Ah Young, Kim, Ju Sang, Ahn, Joong Hyun, Kang, Hye Seon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case Report
내과학
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which originated from neuroendocrine tissue, can develop into paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes, such as Cushing syndrome, because of an inappropriate secretion of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This paraneoplastic syndrome is known to be a poor prognostic factor in SCLC. The reason for poor survival may be because of a higher risk of infection associated with hypercortisolemia. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment for this syndrome is necessary. But the diagnosis is challenging and the source of ACTH production can be difficult to identify. We report a 69-year-old male patient who had severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypertension as manifestations of an ACTH-secreting small cell carcinoma of the lung. He was treated with ketoconazole and spironolactone to control the ACTH dependent Cushing syndrome. He survived for 15 months after chemotherapy, which is unusual considering the poor outcome of the ectopic ATH syndrome associated with SCLC.
ISSN:1738-3536
2005-6184
DOI:10.4046/trd.2015.78.4.436