What Is Cushing's Disease?
7. Cushing’s Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosis is difficult and frequently takes a long time. This is due in part to the fact that early signs are easily missed, as symptoms develop slowly. Furthermore, the changes that occur to hormone levels are not consistent. They may rise temporarily before falling again to normal levels. When Cushing’s disease is suspected, testing is done in stages before a diagnosis is made.
The first test to occur is a hormone test. If the test confirms that cortisol levels are elevated, an MRI is scheduled. The purpose of this test is to identify whether a pituitary tumor is present. If so, then a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease is made. If not but the doctor still suspects the disease, additional tests are ordered.
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