Pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease (PDH) is usually treated with medication. Blood tests and imaging procedures, including abdominal ultrasound, may be needed to make this distinction. Efforts to distinguish which form of the disease is present are important, as this can influence treatment recommendations. This excessive cortisol production can result from abnormalities in the pituitary gland that cause excessive hormone secretion by the adrenal glands, by tumors within the adrenal glands themselves, or by a combination of these factors.Ī variety of symptoms can result from excess cortisol, the most common of which include increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, panting, and skin changes such as hair loss and thinning of the skin. Cushing's disease results from excessive production of cortisol, a hormone normally produced by the adrenal glands.
