Cushing's Disease: An Often Misdiagnosed and Not So Rare Disorder

I was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease in June 2016 and has TPSS to remove my pituitary tumor in September 2016. I ordered this book about 3 months into my recovery because I was seeking me in depth answers as to what has caused my disease and the impact on my body and life both before and after surgery. It is a great resource for the patient in search of knowledge and understanding.

This is an excellent book. I was recently diagnosed with Cushing's Disease after 9 years of going to multiple doctors. Cushing's being such a complex disorder, I went through multiple tests before having TSS surgery. This book covers every aspect of Cushing's from anatomy, diagnostics, signs & symptoms, recovery and much more. I have gone through this book multiple times, and continue to re-read through this book. I would recommend this book for physicians, patients, family and caregivers.

So far half of the school is the refresher from the medical school but some new data which is very important is in it. Books like this must be included in curriculums of Medical schools. Very well structured.

Great overview by does not touch much on GIP Cushing’s or other more rare types of Cushing’s

Published in 2017 by Elsevier Inc – an excellent resource for physicians (and patients)!Edited by E. Laws, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S., Professor of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Director - Neuro-Endocrine / Pituitary Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, with an introduction by Louise Pace, Founder and President of the Cushing's Support and Research Foundation.Eighteen physicians contributed current information about Cushing’s disease to this medical textbook. The co-authors, specialists in in endocrinology and/or neurosurgery, wrote this book to educate other health professionals, medical students and researchers. Patients will also find clear and helpful information in this important book.Cushing's disease sounds like a single diagnosis but, as this book explains, there are several subtypes. Some patients with Cushing's have pituitary tumors; others have hormone-producing adrenal nodules. Still other patients have ectopic ACTH-producing tumors or other reasons for elevated cortisol.The healthy human body produces cortisol according to a circadian rhythm and in response to stress. Cortisol, an essential adrenal hormone, helps to maintain homeostasis by optimizing metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure and the immune system. Above-normal levels of cortisol can cause a variety of symptoms. Patients and skeptical doctors can spend years trying to make sense of fluctuating, seemingly non-specific and gradually-worsening symptoms. How can this sort of medical mystery get solved? Patients can ask for cortisol tests, then referrals to endocrinologists or pituitary specialists who know how to diagnose Cushing’s disease, differentiate the subtypes and treat safely and effectively. Treatment may involve surgery (to remove a hormone-secreting tumor) or medication.Recovering patients can expect new symptoms, including chronic fatigue, as they adapt to lower cortisol levels. In worst cases, a patient can experience a life-threatening adrenal crisis after surgery. Treatment of an adrenal crisis requires the urgent injection of a bolus of cortisol.Patients can join the Cushing’s Support and Research Foundation. Quarterly CSRF newsletters share patients' stories, coping strategies, diagnosis and treatment guidelines and research in-progress.This comprehensive guide to Cushing’s disease describes the functions of pituitary, adrenal and other hormones, lists the typical and atypical symptoms of Cushing's disease and several subtypes. Then it outlines the causes of elevated cortisol and explains how clinicians can test for, diagnose and treat Cushing’s disease. Readers will find this 240-page book detailed, thorough and well-referenced.Review by Robert Sealey, BSc, - author of Finding Care for Depression

Note: I am a Director with the Cushing's Support and Research Foundation (CSRF) and purchased my copy directly from the printer, El Sevier. I was very excited to see this book come to fruition because as much as medical professionals are starting to acknowledge Cushing's, there is still a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about it, from symptoms to diagnosis to treatment. This book is a comprehensive treasure trove of information for doctors, medical students, and even patients and others interested in rare diseases. Many of the doctors presenting chapters in this book are on the Medical Advisory Board for the CSRF and are known for their expertise in the field. Often times we hear of patients going through as many as a dozen doctors before they finally find one that believes them and runs the right tests; many of the doctors in this book are that doctor. This book has been the goal of our President, Louise Pace, for many years. Over 2+ decades she has built our organization to support patients and provide awareness and education about Cushing's, and this is definitely a crowning achievement of which we are all proud.

I am about to purchase the book. My wife suffered for many years with Cushing's.Her symptoms went misdiagnosed for ten years. Believing, she had diabetes, she went to Joslin Diabetes Clinic where Dr. Hsu diagnosed her correctly. My wife sought the Tom Brady of Cushing's Treatment and found him in Dr Laws.Her surgery changed her life. I was unsure whether she be around to see her Grandson thrive. Not only is the Grandson thriving but mywife is thriving.None of this would be possible without Dr.Laws skilled hands and caring way. His support team is without equal. Thanks, Sherry.

An important and excellent resource! So useful for all clinicians, health care providers, biomedical researchers and the general population.

Excellent book. If there was one book to read on cushing's-this is the one to get.

A Guide to Cushing's Disease (and other elevated cortisol conditions) - subtypes, testing, diagnosis and treatmentPublished in 2017 by Elsevier Inc - a gem!Edited by E. Laws, MD, FACS (Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School, Director - Neuro-Endocrine / Pituitary Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston - with an introduction by Louise Pace, Pres. and Founder of the Cushing's Support and Research Foundation.18 medical professionals contributed to this superbly well-written medical textbook - so well written that physicians, clinicians, researchers and even patients, famiily members and other caregivers can learn many fascinating things about disorders involving above-normal levels of cortisol.Cushing's disease sounds like one diagnosis - but as this book explains, there are several subtypes: some Cushing's patients have pituitary tumors which can elevate their cortisol levels; others have hormone-producing adrenal nodules and still other Cushing's patients have ectopic ACHT-producing tumors or other reasons for their elevated cortisol levels. Since the human body routinely produces variable levels of cortisol every day (normally), symptom-producing causes of Cushing's typically lead to even wider fluctuations in cortisol levels. Cortisol (at normal levels) is an adrenal hormone which has a range of 'duties' in the human body. Cushing's patients and skeptical doctors can go for years trying to make sense of each patient's fluctuating symptoms. This important book lists the symptoms of Cushing's, outlines the spectrum of subtypes, and indicates what can cause Cushing's disease (or syndrome) and explains how competent clinicians can test for, diagnose and treat patients whose cortisol levels are elevated. The most essential step - patients have to somehow find their way to doctors who know the various causes of elevated cortisol and understand how the subtypes of Cushing's disease (syndrome) can be tested for, diagnosed properly and treated safely and effectively. Many patients will find clear and helpful information in this important book. Physicians will also find it thorough, well-referenced and detailed. Note that, even after treatment, Cushing's patients can expect to suffer from different symptoms, including chronic fatigue for several months (sometimes longer) - as their bodies adjust to reduced cortisol levels. In worst cases, post-surgical patients can experience a potentially life-threatening adrenal crisis - requiring the urgent injection of a bolus of cortisol. Patients who wish to learn more about the perspective of Cushing's patients can join the Cushings Support and Research Foundation and receive quarterly newsletters which include patients' stories.Review by Robert Sealey, BSc, - author of Finding Care for Depression

I'm only giving 5 stars as I can't give it 6 ..... or 10! It's clearly aimed at practicing physicians but even as a layman I found it very readable. Ironically the most challenging chapter from a layman's perspective is the first which reviews pituitary function and anatomy. I found myself googling medical terms quite frequently. Read this book once and you will (sadly) have a greater knowledge of Cushing's the 99% of physicians.