Often Only a Side Event, but Sometimes Groundbreaking - an Ectopic ACTH Secretion as an Example of a Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Often Only a Side Event, but Sometimes Groundbreaking - an Ectopic ACTH Secretion as an Example of a Paraneoplastic Syndrome Various tumors can cause a paraneoplastic ACTH production, particularly small-cell lung cancers. Patients suffer from a secondary Cushing syndrome with hypokalemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia and edema. There are three therapeutic approaches: treatment of the underlying disease, hormonal inhibition and symptomatic treatment. The prognosis of an ACTH-producing lung cancer is poor due to numerous complications. In the presented case study, the patient refused treatment of the underlying disease, therefore a palliative symptomatic treatment became of great importance.