3. Ectopic ACTH Syndrome: When Other Organs Butt In
Your body is a masterpiece of coordination—most of the time. In the case of Ectopic ACTH Syndrome, though, it’s more like an ensemble gone wrong. Other organs like the lungs or pancreas start producing ACTH, the hormone usually reserved for the pituitary gland. Now, why on Earth would that happen?
Lung tumors, often malignant, are frequently the culprits. These tumors can produce ACTH in spades, hijacking the normal regulatory process. The result is the same: adrenal glands going into cortisol overdrive. Not a road you want to go down.
Here’s a head-turner: this syndrome is more prevalent among men than women. Also, its association with ACTH-producing tumors makes it an urgent concern. Cushing’s Syndrome due to ectopic ACTH is a wild card, unpredictable in both its occurrence and its severity.
Conventional treatment often involves dealing with the tumor itself. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy come into play here, but their effectiveness varies. And there’s always the lingering concern: what if the tumor returns? (3)
