Affiliations: [a] SSD di Endocrinologia, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Via Mura delle Cappuccine 14, Genoa, Italy. e-mail: [email protected]
| [b] SC di Gastroenterologia, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy | [c] SC di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy | [d] SC di Chirurgia Generale ed Epatobiliopancreatica, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
Abstract: We describe the case of a woman affected by morbid obesity associated to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hyperlipidaemia and hypertension, configuring a picture of metabolic syndrome (MS). Hormonal investigations revealed that her MS was secondary to the presence of a cortisol-producing left adrenal adenoma. After monolateral adrenalectomy, the MS subsided. Excessive and sustained hypercortisolism gives rise to the entire spectrum of MS. As some clinical manifestations of MS and Cushing's syndrome (CS) overlap, it is important to consider CS as a possible cause of secondary MS, in order to avoid a delay in diagnosis and proper treatment, which exposes the patient to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
