Cushing's syndrome glossary of terms

adenoma – a benign tumor of a glandular structure or of glandular origin
adrenal glands – either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney consisting of a mesodermal cortex that produces glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgenic hormones and an ectodermal medulla that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) – a protein hormone of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex
artery – any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body
benign – of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life; also, having a good prognosis, responding favorably to treatment
bound – to take up and hold usually by chemical forces
carcinoid - a benign or malignant tumor arising especially from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (as in the stomach or appendix)
cell – a small, usually microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane. It usually includes one or more nuclei and various nonliving products, capable of performing all the fundamental functions of life.
cholesterol – a steroid alcohol present in animal cells and body fluids that regulates membrane fluidity, functions as a precursor molecule in various metabolic pathways, and as a constituent of LDL may cause arteriosclerosis
cortisol – a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex upon stimulation by ACTH that mediates various metabolic processes (as gluconeogenesis), has anti-inflammatory and immunosupressive properties, and whose levels in the blood may become elevated in response to physical or psychological stress
CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) – a substance secreted by the median eminence of the hypothalamus that regulates the release of ACTH by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland
CT (CAT) scan – a sectional view of the body constructed by computed tomography
Cushing’s disease – Cushing’s syndrome especially when caused by excessive production of ACTH by the pituitary gland

dexamethasone – a synthetic glucocorticoid also used in the form of its acetate or sodium phosphate especially as an anti-inflammatory and antiallergic agent
diabetes – any of various abnormal conditions characterized by the secretion and excretion of excessive amounts of urine
ectopic – occurring in an abnormal position
endogenous – caused by factors within the body or mind or arising from internal structural or functional causes
exogenous – caused by factors (as food or a traumatic factor) or an agent (as a disease-producing organism) from outside the organism or system
glucocorticoid – any of a group of corticosteroids (as cortisol or dexamethasone) that are involved especially in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, that tend to increase liver glycogen and blood sugar by increasing gluconeogenesis, that are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive, and that are used widely in medicine (as in the alleviation of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis)

hirsutism – excessive growth of hair of normal or abnormal distribution
hormone – product of living cells that circulates in body fluids (as blood) or sap and produces a specific often stimulatory effect on the activity of cells usually remote from its point of origin
hypothyroidism – deficient activity of the thyroid gland; also, a resultant bodily condition characterized by lowered metabolic rate and general loss of vigor
infertility – not fertile; especially: incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception
invasive – involving entry into the living body (as by incision or by insertion of an instrument)
laparoscopic surgery – an operation (as tubal ligation or gallbladder removal) involving laparoscopy (visual examination of the inside of the abdomen by means of a laparoscope)
malignant – tending to produce death or deterioration; especially: tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – a noninvasive diagnostic technique that produces computerized images of internal body tissues and is based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induced by the application of radio waves
osteoporosis – a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and brittleness

pituitary gland – a small oval reddish gray very vascular endocrine organ that is attached to the infundibulum of the brain and occupies the sella turcica, that is present in all craniate vertebrates, that consists essentially of an epithelial anterior lobe derived from a diverticulum of the oral cavity and joined to a posterior lobe of nervous origin by a pars intermedia, and that has the several parts associated with various hormones which directly or indirectly affect most basic bodily functions and include substances exerting a controlling and regulating influence on other endocrine organs, controlling growth and development, or modifying the contraction of smooth muscle, renal function, and reproduction
polycystic ovarian syndrome – a variable disorder that is marked especially by amenorrhea, hirsutism, obesity, infertility, and ovarian enlargement and is usually initiated by an elevated level of luteinizing hormone, androgen, or estrogen which results in an abnormal cycle of gonadotropin release by the pituitary gland
radiation therapy – the treatment of disease by means of radiation (as X-rays)
recurrence – return of symptoms of a disease after a remission; also, reappearance of a tumor after previous removal
steroid hormone – any of numerous hormones (as estrogen, testosterone, cortisone, and aldosterone) having the characteristic ring structure of steroids and formed in the body from cholesterol
transsphenoidal – performed by entry through the sphenoid bone
triglycerides – any of a group of lipids that are esters formed from one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of one or more fatty acids, are widespread in adipose tissue, and commonly circulate in the blood in the form of lipoproteins
tumor – an abnormal benign or malignant new growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function and arises from uncontrolled usually rapid cellular proliferation