INVESTIGATION in recent years has shown that the symptom complex previously known as Cushing's disease1 is not a distinct pathological entity but rather a clinical picture better termed Cushing's syndrome because it most probably can originate from multiple primary etiologies. The existent disorders are metabolic and somatic, the latter being quite striking as a general rule. The syndrome commonly consists of hypertension, diabetes, facial and body contour changes, hirsutism, acne, and amenorrhea or loss of libido. The direct cause of the symptoms is hormonal overproduction by the cortical cells of the adrenal gland or adrenal cortex tumor cells.
We have had experience with one particular case which illustrates well the complexities of treating this entity, and we believe that its report will aid in standardizing treatment.
REPORT OF CASE
The patient (Fig. 1), a 25-year-old woman, delivered a normal child on April 13, 1950, after a pregnancy complicated only