Cushing's Syndrome in a Zambian Youth

Abstract

A case of Cushing's Syndrome treated by adrenalectomy is described. CUSHING'S syndrome is an uncommon disorder in the European and has seldom been reported in the African. This case is reported as no record of the condition in Zambian has been found. The case history is of a male African patient of 15 years who was referred to hospital by the Late Mr. L. Nixon health inspector in the Gwembe Valley as a case of pituitary tumour. For a year he had suffered from backache, morning occipital headache, generalised pruritus and increasing obesity. He had had an ulcer on his left foot for five months. On examination, he was Obese, marked buffalo hump, short stature-height 53 ins: moon face, drooping right eye lid (old injury); (Fig. I). (Hg. 2.) Purple striae on the hips, thighs and abdominal wall; ulcer dorsum on left foot. C.V.S. Apex beat displaced to the left.; Aortic second sound exaggerated; B.P.190/120: Fundi-grade 2 hypertensive retinopathy.