A Case of Androgenetic Alopecia Associated with Cushing's Disease.
- Author:
Ik Joon KANG
1
;
Hee Ryung CHO
;
Woo Young SIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. hairsim@yahoo.co.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Androgenetic alopecia;
Cushing's disease;
Pituitary adenoma
- MeSH:
Abdomen;
Acne Vulgaris;
Adenoma;
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone;
Adult;
Alopecia*;
Brain;
Dexamethasone;
Female;
Hair;
Hirsutism;
Humans;
Hydrocortisone;
Hypertension;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Obesity, Abdominal;
Oligomenorrhea;
Physical Examination;
Pituitary Neoplasms;
Scalp;
Sella Turcica;
Upper Extremity;
Viola;
Weight Gain
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2006;44(11):1383-1386
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Cushing's disease is an ACTH-producing pituitary corticotrope adenoma. This pituitary adenoma exhibits an unrestrained ACTH secretion resulting in hypercortisolemia. A 27-year-old female visited us with a 3-year history of diffuse hair loss on the scalp. Her past medical history included recently-developed hypertension and 10 years of increased weight gain and oligomenorrhea. Central obesity, hirsutism, acne, violet striae on the abdomen, lower and upper extremities, and christmas tree-shaped alopecia on the scalp were observed upon physical examination. The secretion of cortisol was not suppressed in both a low and high dose dexamethasone suppression test. A brain MRI detected a pituitary microadenoma in the sella turcica. Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, we diagnosed androgenetic alopecia associated with Cushing's disease. After surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma, the alopecia showed a remarkable improvement. We report a case of Cushing's disease found in a patient with androgenetic alopecia.
