Cushing's syndrome

American  

noun

1. Pathology. Cushing's disease.

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Cushing's syndrome Scientific  

/ ksh′ĭngz /

1. A syndrome caused by an excess of corticosteroids, especially cortisol, in the blood, characterized by obesity, muscle and skin atrophy, facial fullness (known as moon facies), hypertension, and other physical changes. Glucocorticoid excess is usually caused by a tumor of the adrenal cortex, excessive intake of ACTH or glucocorticoids, or increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Cushing's syndrome is named after its discoverer, American neurosurgeon Harvey Williams Cushing (1869–1939).

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Example Sentences

And as her face started to swell, she looked in the mirror and recognized the moon face that is a hallmark of Cushing’s syndrome, a condition that happens when your body has too much cortisol.

From Slate • Sep. 9, 2025

"Cushing's syndrome is rare, affecting only a few people in every million, per year," a spokeswoman said.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2024

The comedian Amy Schumer has announced that she has been diagnosed with a rare hormonal disorder called Cushing’s syndrome, after she was swarmed with comments on social media about a change in her physical appearance.

From New York Times • Feb. 26, 2024

It comes from a class of drugs also used to control hyperglycemia caused by Cushing’s syndrome; treat brain and ovarian cancers, endometriosis and fibroids; and even induce labor.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2023

Cushing’s syndrome was the official diagnosis, possibly related to his MS and possibly not.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama