Cushing's syndrome. Illustration of a man suffering from Cushing's syndrome. He shows characteristics typical of the condition, including abdominal obesity with thin arms and legs, a round red face, and a fat lump between the shoulders. This condition results from excess corticosteroid hormones in the body. It may be caused by overstimulation of the adrenal glands due to excessive amounts of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) secreted by a tumour of the pituitary gland (Cushing's disease). The majority of cases, however, are caused by prolonged use of corticosteroid drugs, used to control inflammation. Other symptoms include abnormal body hair growth, raised blood pressure and osteoporosis. Treatment depends on the cause, either cessation of