Also known as: Corticotropin
Formal name: Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Related tests:Cortisol, Cortrosyn (ACTH) stimulation test, Dexamethasone suppression test
1. What is the difference between Cushing's disease and Cushing's syndrome?
Cushing’s disease is the overstimulation of the adrenal gland by ACTH because of a tumor (usually benign) of the pituitary gland. Cushing’s syndrome refers to the same symptoms regardless of the cause. It also can be caused by taking steroid hormones (often used to treat cancer or autoimmune diseases), by tumors of the adrenal glands, and by ACTH-producing tumors outside the pituitary gland (usually in the lungs).
2. What is Addison's disease?
Addison's disease is another name for primary adrenocortical insufficiency, which happens when the adrenal cortex is damaged or destroyed and there is a lack of cortisol and other adrenal steroids, especially aldosterone.
3. My doctor told me that my extra ACTH is not produced in my pituitary gland. What is going on?
Another way your body can make ACTH is called ectopic production of ACTH. This means that ACTH is made from tumors elsewhere in the body, usually (but not always) in the lungs. This causes Cushing’s syndrome and may alert your doctor to the presence of a tumor.
This article was last reviewed on May 5, 2006.
This page was last modified on April 8, 2009.
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